The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has urged authorities to ensure full accountability in the case of the former head of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre Sedina Christine Tamakloe Attionu after a US court approved her extradition to Ghana.

The United States district court for the District of Nevada ruled that all legal requirements for extradition had been met, including jurisdiction, treaty validity and the existence of probable cause, paving the way for the return of Tamakloe Attionu to face justice in Ghana.

Reacting to the development, the MP described the ruling as a legal victory for Ghana but cautioned that the handling of the case upon her return would be critical.

“This is a case that the Republic of Ghana has won,” he said in a Facebook post, pointing to the court’s findings that the offences, including stealing and causing financial loss to the state, meet the threshold under both Ghanaian and US law.

The court also relied on Attionu’s prior conviction in Ghana, noting that it was sufficient to establish probable cause for extradition.

However, Assafuah questioned what he described as a lack of public reaction from government supporters, suggesting inconsistency in how justice outcomes are received.

“Why are they not jubilating?” he asked, arguing that the official response to the Sedina Tamakloe Attionu lawsuit contrasts with reactions to other high-profile cases.

He further warned against any attempt to weaken the impact of the case through executive intervention, citing Article 72 of Ghana’s constitution, which grants the president powers of clemency.

“Any attempt to deploy it in a matter of this magnitude would amount to a direct assault on public confidence in the justice system,” he said.

Assafuah also raised concerns about developments involving Attionu Tamakloe’s co-accused in the original high court case, who has been granted bail pending appeal, warning that such moves could signal a gradual dilution of the case.

The extradition case stems from allegations of financial misconduct involving MASLOC, where Sedina Tamakloe Attionu previously served as chief executive.

While the final decision on her surrender now rests with the US Secretary of State, the case has shifted focus back to Ghana, where authorities will be expected to ensure that the judicial process proceeds without political interference.

“The court in the United States has done its part,” Assafuah said. “The real test now lies here at home.”

On 16 April 2024, an Accra high court sentenced the former chief executive officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre Sedina Tamakloe Attionu to ten years in prison with hard labour.

Daniel Axim, a former chief operating officer of MASLOC, was also sentenced to five years in jail with hard labour.

The two were found guilty on 78 counts in total, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, conspiracy to steal, money laundering and causing loss to public property, in contravention of public procurement law.

On 24 February 2023, the court granted the prosecution’s application to conduct the trial in the absence of Tamakloe Attionu, after the court had allowed her to go to the United States in 2021 for medical attention but she failed to return.

Sedinam Tamakloe Attionu (the first accused in the Accra high court case) and Daniel Axim (the second accused, a former chief operations officer at MASLOC) face court charges relating to allegations of stealing and causing financial loss to the state amounting to GHC93 million, among other offences.

Together, the two accused face a total of 78 charges, including conspiracy to steal, stealing, unauthorised commitment resulting in a financial obligation for the government, improper payment, money laundering and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.

The two accused allegedly stole a total of GHC3,198,280 while at MASLOC and wilfully caused the state a financial loss of GHC1,973,780.

Also while in charge of MASLOC, Tamakloe Attionu and her accomplice allegedly made unauthorised commitments, resulting in financial obligations for the government amounting to GHC61,735,832.50.

Further charges against the two include a loss of GHC22,158,118.85 to public property, improper payment of GHC273,743.66 and money laundering of GHC3,704,380, all while in charge of MASLOC.

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