FORMER MASLOC CEO SEDINA TAMAKLOE-ATTIONU TO APPEAR IN US COURT ON JANUARY 21
Judge to decide on Ghana’s extradition request as Embassy faces access restrictions
Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, the former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), is scheduled to appear before a US judge on January 21, 2026, as American authorities weigh Ghana’s request to extradite her.
According to Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Smith, the appearance is a key step in the ongoing extradition process initiated by Ghana’s Attorney-General’s Department in 2024. Tamakloe-Attionu was arrested by US Marshals and is currently being held at the Nevada Southern Detention Centre.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on Friday, January 16, Ambassador Smith disclosed that Ghanaian embassy officials have been unable to visit the former MASLOC CEO since her detention.
“In this particular case in America, she was arrested by the US Marshals. For now, they are not allowing us to visit… but she has to go to court. My information is that there was an extradition request by the Ghana government back in 2024,” the Ambassador said.
He added that her legal team would have the opportunity to convince the court not to approve the extradition, depending on the strength of their arguments.
Background: Conviction in Absentia
Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was convicted in absentia by an Accra High Court in April 2024, and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour on 78 counts, including:
- Causing financial loss to the state
- Stealing
- Money laundering
- Conspiracy to steal
- Breaches of the Public Procurement Act
Her co-accused, Daniel Axim, former Chief Operating Officer of MASLOC, was also found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison.
The offences occurred between 2013 and 2016, during Tamakloe-Attionu’s tenure at MASLOC. The prosecution, which started in 2019, presented extensive evidence of misappropriation of state funds meant for microfinance support.
Some of the financial irregularities highlighted in court included:
- GH¢500,000 loan to Obaatampa Savings and Loans, which was refunded but not accounted for properly
- Misuse of GH¢1.7 million for a public sensitisation exercise
- GH¢1.4 million meant for Kantamanso fire victims that was never delivered
- Inflated costs in the procurement of vehicles and Samsung phones
Tamakloe-Attionu had initially been permitted to travel for medical treatment abroad but failed to return to stand trial.
Her scheduled appearance before the US court on January 21 will determine whether she will be repatriated to Ghana to serve her sentence.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
