The Court of Appeal has acquitted and discharged former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Christine Tamakloe-Attionu, overturning her conviction and 10-year prison sentence after finding that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The decision sets aside the judgment of the Accra High Court, which in April 2024 convicted Tamakloe-Attionu in absentia on multiple charges, including conspiracy to steal, stealing, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state. She had been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Tamakloe-Attionu left Ghana for the United States in 2021 after obtaining the High Court’s permission to seek medical treatment but did not return to continue her trial. Following her conviction, she remained outside the jurisdiction until she was extradited to Ghana on 9 June 2026 to begin serving her custodial sentence.
Upon her return, her legal team pursued the appeal already pending before the Court of Appeal, contending that the charges were defective and that the evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient to sustain the convictions.
In its ruling made on Thursday, July 30, 2026, the Court of Appeal upheld those arguments, concluding that the prosecution had failed to establish the offences against Tamakloe-Attionu beyond a reasonable doubt. The court consequently quashed the convictions and acquitted and discharged the former MASLOC Chief Executive Officer.
The Court of Appeal’s decision marks a major turning point in one of Ghana’s most closely watched corruption cases. By acquitting and discharging Tamakloe-Attionu, the court has set aside the conviction that formed the basis of her extradition and subsequent incarceration.
The decision, however, may not necessarily mark the end of the litigation. If dissatisfied with the judgment, the State may elect to pursue a further appeal to the Supreme Court in accordance with the law.
The ruling is expected to attract considerable legal and public interest, particularly in light of the constitutional and procedural issues that surrounded Tamakloe-Attionu’s trial in absentia and subsequent extradition. The Court of Appeal’s full written judgment is expected to provide greater insight into the evidential and legal deficiencies that informed its decision to overturn the conviction.
