In a dramatic reversal of one of Ghana’s most high-profile corruption cases, the Court of Appeal has acquitted and discharged former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu.
Sedina, who was extradited from the United States to Ghana in June, had previously been tried in absentia and sentenced in April 2024 to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour. She faced 78 counts, including stealing, conspiracy, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state.
The appellate court’s decision effectively nullifies the earlier conviction, which had been hailed as a landmark in Ghana’s anti-corruption drive. Legal analysts say the ruling raises fresh questions about due process in trials conducted without the accused present, as well as the evidentiary standards applied in complex financial crime cases.
Her acquittal is expected to spark debate over Ghana’s judicial consistency and the broader implications for accountability in public office. Observers note that the case had become a symbol of the state’s determination to recover misappropriated funds, and the outcome may now reshape public perceptions of the fight against corruption.
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