Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has defended the government’s decision not to disclose the exact prison location of former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, insisting that such information is not required to be made public.
Speaking in an interview on Joy News on Wednesday, June 24, Mr Muntaka said the government has a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of inmates, particularly high-profile convicts whose detention locations could expose them to potential risks.
His comments come amid mounting pressure from opposition lawmakers and sections of the public seeking clarity on where the convicted former MASLOC CEO is serving her sentence following her conviction in a high-profile fraud case.
According to the Interior Minister, the state is not obligated to reveal the specific facility where an inmate is being held, stressing that such disclosures could compromise security arrangements.
“Maybe in Ghana, we take telling people where somebody is serving lightly, because in America and other countries, telling people that this kind of high-profile person is here can even lead to the death of that person. So it’s for safety,” he explained.
Mr Muntaka dismissed claims that Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was being kept in a private residence or receiving preferential treatment outside the prison system.
“Trust us, she’s serving her term. She’s not in any private residence. She is with us,” he stated.
The Minister further assured the public that the former MASLOC boss remains under the custody of the Ghana Prisons Service and is serving her sentence in accordance with the law.
“From the day she came, she has been with us, and she’s with us, and she’s serving her term,” he said.
Responding to suggestions that the public deserves to know her exact whereabouts, Mr Muntaka argued that once a court has sentenced an individual, the person automatically comes under prison custody, making speculation about their detention unnecessary.
“Was she not sentenced? She was. If she were sentenced, where would she be? You must be in prison custody,” he added.
He, however, noted that family members, legal representatives, and other authorized persons seeking to visit or verify the inmate’s location could do so through the established procedures of the Ghana Prisons Service.
The Minister’s remarks are expected to fuel further debate over transparency and security considerations in the management of high-profile inmates, even as government officials maintain that Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu is serving her sentence under lawful state supervision.
