Court of Appeal Acquits and Discharges Former MASLOC CEO Sedina Tamakloe Attionu

By: Ebenezer Adu-Gyamfi / Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada | July 30,2026

In a landmark decision that has sparked widespread public and political discussion, Ghana’s Court of Appeal has acquitted and discharged former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Christine Tamakloe Attionu, overturning her 2024 conviction on multiple corruption-related charges. 

The ruling marks a dramatic reversal in a case that had become one of Ghana’s highest-profile public sector corruption prosecutions.

Background to the Case

Sedina Tamakloe Attionu served as Chief Executive Officer of MASLOC between 2013 and 2017 under the administration of former President John Dramani Mahama.

In 2019, she was arraigned before the Accra High Court alongside former MASLOC Chief Operating Officer Daniel Axim over allegations including stealing, causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, improper payment of public funds and breaches of the Public Procurement Act. 

The prosecution alleged that irregular transactions during her tenure resulted in substantial financial losses to the state, including issues surrounding a GH¢500,000 investment refund, procurement contracts and funds allocated for sensitisation programmes.

The 2024 Conviction

In April 2024, the High Court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, convicted Tamakloe Attionu in absentia after she failed to return to Ghana from a medical trip abroad.

She was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour, while her co-accused, Daniel Axim, received a five-year prison sentence. The judgment attracted national attention and was widely viewed as a significant anti-corruption victory. 

Appeal Challenged the Conviction

Following her conviction, Tamakloe Attionu’s legal team appealed the decision, arguing that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Her lawyers also contended that the charge sheet was legally defective because several counts merely repeated the wording of the law without adequately setting out the specific facts of the alleged offences. They further argued that important witnesses were not called and challenged the authenticity and interpretation of key evidence relied upon by the prosecution. 

Court of Appeal’s Decision

The Court of Appeal has now ruled in favour of the former MASLOC CEO, acquitting and discharging her.

The decision effectively overturns the High Court’s conviction and sentence, representing a major legal victory for Tamakloe Attionu and her defence team. 

The full written judgment is expected to provide detailed legal reasons for the appellate court’s decision and will likely be closely examined by lawyers, anti-corruption advocates and political observers.

Political and Legal Significance

The ruling is expected to generate fresh debate over Ghana’s criminal justice system, particularly in relation to the prosecution of public officials and complex financial crime cases.

It also highlights the role of the Court of Appeal in reviewing trial court decisions to ensure convictions are supported by sufficient evidence and proper legal procedures.

Legal analysts say the judgment could influence how future corruption prosecutions are investigated, charged and tried.

Public Reactions Expected

The acquittal is likely to trigger mixed reactions across Ghana’s political landscape.

Supporters of the former MASLOC CEO have welcomed the decision as proof that the appeal process works to correct legal errors, while others are expected to await the Court of Appeal’s detailed reasons before drawing conclusions.

The case remains one of the most significant public accountability matters in Ghana in recent years and is expected to continue generating discussion nationwide.

GhanaianNewsCanada will continue to monitor developments, including the release of the Court of Appeal’s full judgment and any further legal steps arising from the case.