The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to immediately file a notice of appeal at the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal’s decision that acquitted and discharged former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu (also referred to as Sedina Attionu Tamakloe). An application for a stay of execution of the judgment pending the outcome of the appeal will also be filed.
Background
- In April 2024, an Accra High Court (presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe) convicted her in absentia on 78 counts. These included conspiracy to steal, stealing, causing financial loss to the state, causing loss to public property, improper payment of public funds, unauthorised commitments, money laundering, and breaches of the Public Procurement Act. She was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
- The charges related to alleged misappropriation and diversion of public funds during her tenure as MASLOC CEO (2013–2017). The prosecution (under the previous administration) relied heavily on investigations by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and a forensic audit.
- She had been granted permission by the High Court in 2021 to travel to the United States for medical treatment but did not return to continue the trial. Ghana secured her extradition; she arrived in Accra on 9 June 2026 and began serving her sentence at the Nsawam Medium Security Female Prison on 24 June 2026.
Court of Appeal ruling (30 July 2026)
A three-member panel (Justices Emmanuel Ankamah, Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe and Samuel Obeng-Diawuo) unanimously overturned the conviction and sentence. The court held that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. It also criticised the trial court for losing sight of the constitutional principle that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Defence lawyers had argued that the charge sheet was fundamentally defective and lacked sufficient particulars.
Attorney-General’s response
In a statement issued on 30 July 2026, the Attorney-General’s office acknowledged the Court of Appeal’s decision but stated that the Republic remains dissatisfied with the outcome. It expressed confidence that the appeal to the Supreme Court will succeed and reaffirmed commitment to due process.
The matter is now expected to proceed to the Supreme Court for final determination.
Story by : Emmanuel Nettey
