Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Victor Smith, has confirmed the arrest of former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, in the United States.

In a statement issued on January 15, 2026, Victor Smith said Sedina Tamakloe was arrested by the US Marshals on January 6, 2026, and has since been held at a detention centre.

According to the ambassador, her arrest followed an extradition request sent to US authorities in July 2024 by the previous Attorney-General under the Akufo-Addo administration.

Victor Smith added that Sedina Tamakloe is currently in detention and awaiting court proceedings as part of the extradition process.

Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was sentenced in April 2024 to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour after being found guilty on 78 counts. The charges included causing financial loss to the state, stealing, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, and breaches of the Public Procurement Act.

Her co-accused, former MASLOC Chief Operating Officer Daniel Axim, was also convicted and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

The offences were committed between 2013 and 2016 and involved the misappropriation of funds intended for MASLOC programmes. The trial, which began in 2019, saw the prosecution call six witnesses.

Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was tried in absentia after leaving the country while on court permission to seek medical treatment abroad. Daniel Axim appeared in court and testified but did not call any witnesses.

One of the offences established by the court involved the withdrawal of GH¢500,000 as a loan to Obaatampa Savings and Loans Company. The funds were later demanded back after the institution declined a proposed 24 percent interest rate. Although evidence showed the money was refunded, it was not recorded in MASLOC’s accounts.

The court also found that more than GH¢1.7 million allocated for a sensitisation exercise was misappropriated. MASLOC was expected to pay GH¢20 to each of 85,300 beneficiaries, but only GH¢1,300 was used for the stated purpose.

In addition, only GH¢579,800 out of GH¢1.4 million meant for victims of the Kantamanso inferno was disbursed, while the remaining amount was unlawfully appropriated.

The case further revealed inflated procurement costs for vehicles and Samsung mobile phones, with payments exceeding market prices despite the items being purchased in bulk. (TRIBUNE)

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