Court of Appeal acquits, discharges Sedina Tamakloe- Attionu …but AG serves notice of appeal at Supreme Court

In a significant legal development, the Court of Appeal in Accra has acquitted and discharged Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Center (MASLOC). This decision overturns the 10-year prison sentence handed down by the High Court in April 2024.

The appellate court stated that the prosecution had failed to prove Ms. Tamakloe-Attionu's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, she cannot be tried again in any Ghanaian court for the charges of corruption, conspiracy to steal, stealing, and causing financial loss to the state. Ms. Tamakloe-Attionu, a 54-year-old pharmacist, had been extradited to Ghana from the United States in June, where she had sought refuge after obtaining court permission for medical treatment.

Her co-accused, Daniel Axim, Head of Operations at MASLOC, received a five-year prison term. The High Court had also ordered the convicts to refund the misappropriated state funds. Both had faced additional charges including unauthorized commitment resulting in financial obligation for the government, money laundering, and contravention of the Public Procurement Act, to which they had pleaded not guilty.

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The Republic opposed the appeal by filing written submissions, contending that the appeal lacked merit and ought to be dismissed.

This acquittal comes after a complex legal process. In January 2023, the court had ordered Alex Mould, former CEO of the National Petroleum Authority, and Gavivina Tamakloe to pay GH¢5 million to the state for failing to produce Mrs. Tamakloe-Attionu, who had been granted GH¢5 million bail with Mr. Mould as her surety. The state had the power to freeze the sureties' properties if the bond was not paid.

Despite the Court of Appeal's decision, the Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Akurutinga Ayine, has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to file an appeal at the Supreme Court. The AG's office stated that the Republic had opposed the appeal at the Court of Appeal, arguing it lacked merit. The notice of appeal signifies the state's intent to challenge the acquittal further.

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Having received notice of the Court of Appeal’s decision, the Attorney-General has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to immediately file a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court, together with an application for a