A United States District Court in Nevada has approved the extradition of former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Christine Tamakloe-Attionu, to Ghana to serve a 10-year prison sentence.
In its ruling, the court affirmed that it has jurisdiction over both the extradition proceedings and the accused, and that the extradition treaty between the United States and Ghana remains valid and enforceable.
The court further confirmed that the individual before it is the same person sought by Ghanaian authorities and that all documents supporting the extradition request were properly certified.
It also held that there is sufficient probable cause to believe that Tamakloe-Attionu committed the offences for which she is being sought.
The court subsequently certified her extradition and ordered that she be held in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending a final decision by the U.S. Secretary of State on her transfer to Ghana.
Tamakloe-Attionu was convicted in Ghana in April 2024 and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour on multiple charges, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, conspiracy, money laundering, and procurement breaches.
Court records indicate that she absconded during the trial after being granted permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Her extradition represents a significant step in efforts by Ghanaian authorities to enforce the judgment and ensure she serves her sentence.
Background
In April 2024, Tamakloe-Attionu was found guilty on 78 counts, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, and breaches of the Public Procurement Act.
Her co-accused, former MASLOC Chief Operating Officer Daniel Axim, was also sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
The offences, which occurred between 2013 and 2016, involved the alleged misappropriation of funds allocated to MASLOC programmes. The trial, which began in 2019, featured six prosecution witnesses.
Tamakloe-Attionu was tried in absentia after failing to return from medical travel abroad, while Axim, who was present throughout the proceedings, testified in his defence but called no witnesses.
Among the findings, the court established that GH¢500,000 was withdrawn as a loan to Obaatampa Savings and Loans Company, which was later refunded after the institution rejected a 24 percent interest arrangement—though the repayment was not recorded in MASLOC’s accounts.
The court also determined that more than GH¢1.7 million allocated for a sensitisation exercise was misappropriated, with only a portion used for its intended purpose.
Additionally, only GH¢579,800 out of GH¢1.4 million earmarked for victims of the Kantamanso inferno was disbursed, with the remaining funds unlawfully retained.
The case further uncovered inflated procurement costs for vehicles and mobile phones, with payments significantly exceeding market prices despite bulk purchases.
Source:
oyerepafmonline.com