Former MASLOC Boss Freed
A decade-long prison sentence imposed on former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu has been overturned after the Court of Appeal acquitted and discharged her of all charges.
The appellate court found that the prosecution failed to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt, the legal standard required for a criminal conviction. As a result, the judges set aside the earlier judgment of the High Court, bringing an end to the criminal proceedings against the former MASLOC head.
The decision followed an appeal challenging both the convictions and aspects of the trial process. Lawyers representing Ms Tamakloe-Attionu argued that the evidence presented during the trial was insufficient to sustain the charges and that legal errors affected the outcome of the case.
The High Court had convicted Ms Tamakloe-Attionu in 2024 over allegations connected to her leadership of MASLOC. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty on several charges relating to the management and use of public funds.
The prosecution alleged that public resources assigned to various MASLOC programmes had been misapplied, resulting in charges that included stealing, causing financial loss to the state and other financial offences. During the trial, prosecutors relied on witness testimony, documentary evidence and findings from investigations to support their case.
Ms Tamakloe-Attionu had travelled to the United States in 2021 with the High Court’s permission to seek medical treatment while the trial was ongoing. She later returned to Ghana in June 2026 before beginning to serve her prison sentence at the Nsawam Medium Security Female Prison.
After reviewing the evidence and arguments presented by both sides, the Court of Appeal concluded that the prosecution had not met the burden of proof required in criminal proceedings. The ruling therefore nullifies the earlier conviction and restores Ms Tamakloe-Attionu’s legal status as an acquitted person.
The judgment is expected to attract significant public and legal interest because it reverses one of the country’s most closely watched corruption-related prosecutions involving a former head of a state institution. Legal observers say the ruling also highlights the importance of appellate review in ensuring that criminal convictions are supported by sufficient evidence and comply with constitutional principles governing fair trials.
The Court of Appeal is expected to release its detailed written judgment, outlining the legal reasoning behind its decision.
