Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu
Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Smith, has confirmed the detention of former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu by US authorities.
In an official press statement issued on Thursday, January 15, and signed by the Ambassador, Mr Smith said Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu is currently being held at the Southern Nevada Detention Center in the United States.
According to information available to Ghanaian authorities, the detention follows an extradition request submitted by the Government of Ghana to the United States in July 2024. Acting on that request, US Marshals arrested Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu and placed her in custody, where she is expected to remain pending court proceedings related to the extradition process.
The development comes nearly two years after an Accra High Court sentenced Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour in connection with corruption-related offences during her tenure at MASLOC.
Her co-accused, Daniel Axim, a former Chief Operating Officer of MASLOC, was also convicted and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Conviction in Absentia
The two were found guilty on 78 counts, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, unauthorised commitment resulting in financial obligations for government, improper payment, and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.
They had been on trial since 2019.
In February 2023, the Accra High Court granted an application by the prosecution to conduct the trial in the absence of Mrs Tamakloe-Attoh, after she failed to return to Ghana. The court had earlier granted her permission in 2021 to travel to the United States for medical treatment, but she did not return to face trial.
Financial Loss to the State
Court proceedings established that the two accused persons stole a total of GH¢3.19 million and wilfully caused financial loss of GH¢1.97 million to the state.
They were also found to have made unauthorised commitments amounting to GH¢61.7 million, resulting in financial obligations for government.
Additional charges related to the loss of GH¢22.15 million to public property, improper payment of GH¢273,743.66, and money laundering of GH¢3.7 million, all during their time in charge of MASLOC.
The Government of Ghana is expected to pursue the extradition process to ensure Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu serves her custodial sentence.
