Volta Region divided after Court of Appeal clears former MASLOC chief

Residents and political actors in Ghana’s Volta Region have reacted differently to the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit and discharge former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu.

A three-member panel overturned the 10-year prison sentence imposed on Madam Tamakloe-Attionu, ruling that prosecutors had failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The panel also found that the trial court had wrongly placed the burden of proof on the accused.

The decision has been welcomed by some people in Ho, who regard it as a vindication of the former MASLOC boss. Others, however, fear the ruling could undermine public confidence in attempts to hold public officials accountable for alleged financial misconduct.

Bright Kugbadzor, Deputy Volta Regional Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), described Madam Tamakloe-Attionu as a “political prisoner”.

He said her conviction had formed part of what he viewed as a political witch-hunt, and argued that the Court of Appeal ruling underlined the importance of an independent judiciary.

According to Mr Kugbadzor, the judgment showed that cases could be decided on the evidence rather than on political considerations.

“Her discharge clearly shows that the judiciary is free from executive manipulation,” he said.

The ruling has also prompted criticism from within the NDC. Bright Kwame Nyatsikor, parliamentary candidate for the Adaklu Constituency, said the development could create a troubling precedent for the fight against corruption and attempts to recover money allegedly lost by the state.

He said the government, led by President John Dramani Mahama, needed to be careful over decisions that might be seen as weakening accountability for people convicted of offences involving financial loss to the State.

“We are setting a wrong precedent when people sentenced for causing financial loss to the State are freed,” he said.

Bright Azim, Executive Director of a civil society organisation, questioned how the prosecution had been handled, with particular focus on the Attorney-General’s Office.

“I thought the Attorney-General studied the case very well before the extradition of the woman,” he said.

Mr Azim urged the Attorney-General to reinforce the State’s case if the government chose to continue with the legal process.

Madam Tamakloe-Attionu was convicted in absentia by the High Court in April 2024. The charges against her included stealing, conspiracy to steal, causing financial loss to the State, money laundering and breaches of public procurement laws.

She returned to Ghana in June 2026 after being extradited from the United States. Following her arrival, she was taken into custody to begin serving the sentence imposed by the High Court.

The Court of Appeal’s decision has since been challenged by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine. He has instructed the Director of Public Prosecutions to take the case to the Supreme Court and has also applied for a stay of execution of the appellate court’s ruling.

The contrasting responses in the Volta Region reflect a wider dispute over whether the judgment represents a necessary correction of a failed prosecution or risks weakening efforts to pursue alleged financial crimes involving public funds.