The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised Ghana’s Court of Appeal after former MASLOC chief executive Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was acquitted, claiming she escaped punishment despite allegations involving more than GH¢90m in losses to the state.
At a press conference in Accra, the party said Ms Tamakloe-Attionu, who had been convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2024, was now free following the appeal court ruling.
“Sedina is walking home free after stealing GH¢90 million of taxpayers’ money!” the NPP said.
Ms Tamakloe-Attionu served as chief executive of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) from November 2013 to January 2017, during the presidency of John Mahama.
The state filed 78 charges against her on 30 January 2019. They included stealing, conspiracy to steal, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, improper payment of public funds, unauthorised commitments, money laundering and breaches of procurement rules.
The NPP said investigations by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) had identified seven main areas in which public funds were allegedly diverted.
It claimed that a GH¢500,000 cheque issued to Obaatampa was redirected after Ms Tamakloe-Attionu instructed the company to cash it and hand the money to her at Baatsona Total. The party said: “She stole it!”
The party also alleged that GH¢1,816,000 was withdrawn for sensitisation activities, although GH¢1,706,000 had been approved. It said only GH¢1,300 was used in three regions, leaving GH¢1,814,700 unaccounted for.
A further GH¢246,000 was reportedly approved for financial literacy training, but the NPP said: “Not a single training was done.”
On funds intended for victims of the Kantamanto fire, the party alleged that GH¢579,000 was taken from GH¢1.46m approved for the programme. “She stole GH¢579,000!” it said.
The NPP also accused Ms Tamakloe-Attionu of causing a $4,130,642 loss through the purchase of 350 Aveo, Chevrolet and Isuzu buses. It alleged the prices were inflated without approval from the Public Procurement Authority, increasing the contract from $10.16m to $14.29m.
In another allegation, 200 Samsung phones bought for GH¢24,400 were said to have been billed at GH¢93,412, creating a difference of GH¢69,012. The party further cited GH¢273,743 in unauthorised payments made to Ms Tamakloe-Attionu and her deputy as ex-gratia and other benefits.
Ms Tamakloe-Attionu left Ghana for medical treatment in July 2021 and did not return. She was tried in absentia, convicted in April 2024 and extradited in June 2026.
The NPP questioned how a notice of appeal had “suddenly appeared” in 2026 when, it said, no such notice existed during its time in government.
It accused the three-member Court of Appeal panel – Justices E. Ankamah, S. Diawuo and E.S. Amedahe – of failing to properly consider evidence from seven state witnesses.
The party also rejected the court’s position that the charge sheet was defective. It cited Section 31(2) of the Courts Act and Section 406(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act, arguing that convictions should not be overturned on technical grounds where the evidence supports the offences.
“The whole Sedina acquittal was well planned and executed by the NDC government. This is what is called clearing!” the NPP said.
It also accused the Attorney-General of turning the “sacred trust” provided by Article 88 into a “partisan clearing house”, alleging that nolle prosequi applications since January 2025 had freed “virtually every NDC-affiliated person.”
The NPP called on the Attorney-General to publish details of all discontinued cases and urged the Judicial Council to take action to rebuild public confidence in the justice system.
