Mahama Will Not Interfere in Sedina Attionu Case — Vanderpuye
The National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has dismissed suggestions that President John Dramani Mahama could intervene to secure a pardon for former MASLOC Chief Executive Officer Sedina Tamakloe Attionu following her extradition to Ghana to serve a prison sentence.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, June 11, Vanderpuye said President Mahama’s leadership style is grounded in fairness and respect for due process, insisting he would not interfere in judicial proceedings or shield anyone from accountability.
He argued that the extradition and subsequent imprisonment of Sedina Attionu should serve as a reminder of Ghana’s commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring that public officials face consequences for wrongdoing.
“Unless you don’t know President Mahama for who he is… when it comes to certain things, he will let you face the wrath yourself. He will not go to shield you,” he stated.
His comments come amid ongoing public debate over whether Sedina Attionu could be considered for executive clemency after arriving in Ghana to begin serving her 10-year sentence.
Vanderpuye stressed that such discussions are premature, insisting that government had no role in blocking her extradition, contrary to claims made by critics.
He further noted that the successful extradition process has already disproved assertions that she would not return to face justice, adding that she is expected to serve her sentence in full in line with the court’s ruling.
“The NPP will be disappointed. First, they said she’s not going to come… Today, she’s here,” he said.
Sedina Attionu was convicted in 2024 in absentia by the Accra High Court for offences including stealing and causing financial loss to the state. The court found that her actions during her tenure at MASLOC between 2013 and 2016 resulted in losses of nearly GH¢90 million.
She was initially granted permission in 2021 to travel to the United States for medical treatment but failed to return, prompting extradition proceedings that were later approved by a US District Court in Nevada.
Authorities say she is now in custody and undergoing procedures before beginning her sentence.
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