Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has clarified that former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, remains in prison custody despite the Court of Appeal’s recent decision to overturn her conviction.
Speaking during an interview on Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV on Tuesday, August 4, Kwakye Ofosu dismissed reports suggesting that Tamakloe-Attionu had been out of custody since returning to Ghana.
According to him, the former MASLOC boss has been held by the Ghana Prisons Service continuously from the day she arrived in the country until the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment.
He described claims that she had been staying at home instead of prison as false and without merit, insisting that she has remained in lawful custody throughout the period.
Kwakye Ofosu further stated that the appellate court’s ruling has not resulted in Tamakloe-Attionu’s release, stressing that she is still being held while the legal process continues.
The clarification comes after Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie authorised the Court of Appeal to sit during the legal vacation to hear an application filed by the Attorney-General seeking a stay of execution of the appellate court’s judgment. The application is expected to be heard on August 16.
The Attorney-General is asking the Supreme Court to suspend the effect of the Court of Appeal’s decision pending the outcome of the State’s appeal. The application argues that there is a possibility Tamakloe-Attionu could leave the country before the Supreme Court concludes the matter.
Meanwhile, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced plans to stage a protest on Thursday, August 6, over the Court of Appeal’s ruling. The party maintains that the judgment was flawed and has accused the government of targeting opposition figures while allegedly protecting its political allies.
The Court of Appeal recently quashed Tamakloe-Attionu’s 10-year prison sentence, ruling that prosecutors failed to establish her guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The case stemmed from allegations that she authorised the diversion of a GH¢500,000 MASLOC loan originally intended for Obaatanpa Microfinance after the institution reportedly declined the facility due to its interest rate.
With the Attorney-General’s appeal still pending before the Supreme Court, the legal proceedings surrounding the high-profile case are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
