A United States District Court located in Nevada has approved the extradition of Sedina Christine Tamakloe-Attionu, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), to Ghana to fulfill her 10-year prison sentence.
The court determined that it possesses jurisdiction over both the extradition matter and the individual in question, affirming that the extradition treaty between the United States and Ghana is still valid and enforceable.
Additionally, it confirmed that the person brought before the court is indeed the same individual sought by the authorities in Ghana, and that all documents provided by Ghana to support the extradition request were duly certified.
The court also concluded that there is sufficient probable cause to believe that Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu committed the crimes for which her extradition is being sought by the government of Ghana.
In its final ruling, the court certified her extradition to Ghana and mandated that she be placed in the custody of the United States Marshals Service, awaiting a final decision from the U.S. Secretary of State regarding her surrender.
Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was previously convicted in Ghana in April 2024 and sentenced to 10 years of hard labor on various charges, including causing financial loss to the state, theft, conspiracy, money laundering, and violations of procurement regulations.
She had fled Ghana prior to the conclusion of her trial, having been granted permission to travel abroad for medical reasons, as per court records.
Her extradition represents a significant advancement in Ghanaian authorities’ efforts to enforce the judgment and ensure her return to serve her sentence.
The case continues to attract public interest as part of wider initiatives to recover state assets lost due to alleged financial misconduct at MASLOC.
In April 2024, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was sentenced to 10 years of hard labour imprisonment after being convicted on 78 charges, which included causing financial loss to the state, theft, conspiracy to commit theft, money laundering, and violations of the Public Procurement Act.
Her co-defendant, former Chief Operating Officer of MASLOC, Daniel Axim, received a sentence of five years of hard labour imprisonment.
The prosecution addressed offences that occurred between 2013 and 2016, involving the misappropriation of funds designated for MASLOC operations. The trial commenced in 2019 and included testimony from six witnesses called by the state.
Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was tried in absentia after she fled while on court-approved leave to seek medical treatment abroad. In contrast, Daniel Axim provided his testimony in person but did not present any witnesses.
Among the charges confirmed by the court was the withdrawal of GH¢500,000 as a loan to Obaatampa Savings and Loans Company, which the defendants later sought to have refunded after the institution refused to accept a 24 percent interest rate. Although evidence indicated that the amount was refunded, it was not recorded in MASLOC’s accounts.
The court also determined that over GH¢1.7 million allocated for a sensitisation initiative was misappropriated. MASLOC was supposed to distribute GH¢20 to each of the 85,300 beneficiaries, yet only GH¢1,300 was utilized for the intended purpose.
Furthermore, only GH¢579,800 of the GH¢1.4 million designated for victims of the Kantamanso fire was disbursed, with the remaining funds unlawfully appropriated.
The case also included inflated procurement expenses for vehicles and Samsung mobile phones, with evidence showing that the amounts paid surpassed the prevailing market prices, despite the items being acquired in bulk.
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