Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu's Legal Rollercoaster: Acquittal, Appeals, and Political Fallout

The Court of Appeal has acquitted and discharged former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, overturning her earlier conviction and a 10-year prison sentence. In a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, July 30, 2026, the appellate court ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the trial judge had lost sight of the constitutional principle of presumed innocence. Her legal team, led by Enoch Deegbe, confirmed that the primary basis for the Court of Appeal's decision was a fundamentally defective charge sheet, which they argued violated Article 19(2)(d) of the 1992 Constitution by failing to provide sufficient details of the alleged offenses.

Ms. Tamakloe Attionu had been convicted in absentia by the High Court on April 16, 2024, on 78 counts including conspiracy to steal, stealing, causing financial loss to the State, money laundering, and breaches of the Public Procurement Act. She had travelled to the United States in 2021 with the High Court's permission for medical treatment but did not return, leading to her trial in absentia. She was extradited from the United States and returned to Ghana on June 9, 2026, beginning her 10-year prison sentence at the Nsawam Medium Security Female Prison on June 24, 2026, before her appeal was determined.

Following the Court of Appeal's ruling, the Attorney General has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to immediately file a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court, along with an application for a stay of execution of the judgment. In a press release issued on July 30, 2026, and further defended by Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine, the state emphasized its commitment to due process and confidence that the appeal before the Supreme Court will succeed. Dr. Ayine stated that his decision to appeal was driven by national interest and the pursuit of accountability, based on professional judgment despite a longstanding personal friendship with Ms. Tamakloe Attionu. He stressed that government is a continuum and that cases inherited from previous administrations, when supported by evidence and public interest, must be pursued.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed surprise at the Court of Appeal's decision, with General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua stating that the party will soon announce its official position after internal consultations. National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye criticized the state’s handling of the appeal, alleging a