{"id":26762,"date":"2026-01-16T09:15:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T09:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/26762\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T09:15:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T09:15:08","slug":"sedina-tamakloe-us-arrest-detain-ex-ceo-of-ghana-microfinance-and-small-loans-centre-masloc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/26762\/","title":{"rendered":"Sedina Tamakloe: US arrest, detain ex- CEO of Ghana Microfinance and small loans centre Masloc"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a9e12020-f2ae-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.png.webp.webp\"   alt=\"Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu together with one of her officers were tried for five years - Attionu was tried in absentia \" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1280 \/ 720\" class=\"css-1seqhu9\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-nyj3yn\" role=\"text\">Wia dis foto come from, SEDINA TAMAKLOE-ATTIONU\/FACEBOOK<\/p>\n<p>Wetin we call dis foto, Di high court for Ghana find ex- CEO of di Microfinance and small loans centre  (Masloc) guilty of corruption and embezzlement wey dem sentence her to 10 years in prison for 2024<\/p>\n<p>45 minutes wey don pass<\/p>\n<p>Read am in 5 mins<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Di Ghana embassy for di US confam say authorities arrest ex-Ghana govment official, wey dey run away from justice since 2019.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu wey be di CEO of di kontris microfinance and small loans centre (Masloc) between 2013 and 2016, comot Ghana afta she ask permission from di court for medical check-up abroad.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">She neva return to face trail as di state charge her and one of her deputy CEO for causing financial loss to di kontri and embezzlement of public moni.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Inside one statement wey di Ghana ambassador Victor Smith sign for 15 January 2026, dem confam say she currently dey &#8220;detention.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Kontinu to dey read<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">&#8220;I fit confam say dem arrest Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu wey dem detain her for di Nevada Southern Detention Center.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Ambassador Smith add say &#8220;US Marshals detain am on 6 January 2026 as dem dey act on one extradition request wey Ghana send to US authorities for July 2024.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">E tok for di statement say US authorities go soon put her bifor court.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/7171c520-f2b1-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.png.webp.webp\"   alt=\"statement from the ghana embassy in the US\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1280 \/ 720\" class=\"css-1seqhu9\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-nyj3yn\" role=\"text\">Wia dis foto come from, SCREENGRAB<\/p>\n<p>Wetin we call dis foto, US Marshals detain Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu on 6 January 2026 <\/p>\n<p>Ex-finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta also dey detention for US<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Dis latest gist dey happun at a time US customs and immigration officers arrest and detain di ex-finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta also for immigration irregularities.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">&#8220;Di ex-finance minister enta di US for 28 May 2025 wit visitor&#8217;s visa wey get expiry date of 27 November 2025. Ken Ofori-Atta overstay his permitted stay,&#8221; di ICE tok-tok pesin clarify.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Di enforcement team detain di ex-minister on Tuesday 6 January 2026 for di Caroline Detention facility for Virginia.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Lawyers for di ex-finance minister for Ghana inside dia statement say &#8220;his US legal team dey in contact wit ICE wey dem expect to address di mata quick quick.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">&#8220;Oga Ofori-Atta get pending petition for adjustment of status wey go allow pesin to stay for di US legally past di period of validity of dia visa,&#8221; di statement wey Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo don sign explain.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">On 18 December, Ghana attorney general and minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine confam say im office don formally send extradition request for di ex-finance minister and im alleged accomplice \u2013 one Ernest Akore (Ken chief of staff when im dey office as finance minister), to di US.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Im confam say dem begin di process on 19 November 2025 when dem submit di request for commencement of extradition proceedings against di two pipo.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Dr Ayine add during dat press conference say dem submit di request to di department of justice for America wey he add say di decision now dey for di hands of American authorities.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">&#8220;At dis point, na di US authorities especially di judicial authorities wey go determine whether sufficient evidence dey wey go demand say make di two accused pipo \u2013 di ex-finance minister and im chief of staff, dey extradited to Ghana to stand trial.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">His lawyers consistently tok say dia client (di ex-finance minister) dey innocent of all di corruption charges wey he neva dey run away from accountability.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/4d96ea60-f2af-11f0-96d7-470354329f50.jpg.webp.webp\"   alt=\"ken ofori-atta has been out of Ghana since January 2025 as many accuse him of running away from accountability, but his lawyers say he is out of ghana on medical grounds \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"980\" height=\"551\" style=\"aspect-ratio:980 \/ 551\" class=\"css-1seqhu9\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-nyj3yn\" role=\"text\">Wia dis foto come from, MINISTRY OF FINANCE<\/p>\n<p>Wetin we call dis foto, Ken Ofori-Atta, di ex-finance minister dey face 78 corruption and related charges for Ghana; he currently dey ICE detention for US afta im overstay his visa. Di kontri also file extradition request to di US for di 67-year-old.<\/p>\n<p>High court sentence Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu to 10 years in jail in absentia<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Di court also sentence her chief operating officer Daniel Axim to five years in prison wit hard labour.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Dem do di trial of Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu from 2019 to 2024 in absentia sake of she comot Ghana wey she neva return till now, even afta dem convict her.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Di court find di two pipo guilty on 78 counts of causing financial loss to d state, theft, conspiracy to steal, money laundering among odas.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Six witnesses testify for di state for dat case, her co-accused pesin di chief operating officer Daniel Axim testify for di court but he neva present any witness.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Prosecution allege say Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu and her co-accused embezzle GHC 3.19m ($295k) during her time as CEO wey dem cause financial loss of GHC 1.97m ($182K) to di state.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Dem also dey accused say dem make &#8220;unauthorized commitment wey result in financial obligation to di amount of GHC 61.4m ($6m) for di govment.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Di charges also include GHC 22.15m ($2.1m) in property loss, improper payment of GHC 274K ($26K) and laundering of GHC 3.7m ($342k).<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Di high court find di two pipo guilty wey dem sentence dem to 10 years and five years respectively.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">But Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu neva return to di kontri to serve her jail term<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/d7b4bbf0-f2af-11f0-96d7-470354329f50.jpg.webp.webp\"   alt=\"if di extradition is successful, she would return to face her 10-year jailterm or she can appeal the sentence.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1436\" height=\"807\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1436 \/ 807\" class=\"css-1seqhu9\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-nyj3yn\" role=\"text\">Wia dis foto come from, SEDINA TAMAKLOE-ATTIONU\/FACEBOOK<\/p>\n<p>Wetin we call dis foto, &#8220;Di Americans make we understand say dem dey in di process to extradite her to Ghana, if she wan challenge her 10-year sentence, she fit handle am for Ghana&#8221; &#8211; Ghana Attorney general Dr Dominic Ayine<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Ghana first present di extradition request for di ex-Masloc CEO under di previous govment in July 2024.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Di current attorney general Dr. Dominic Ayine confam say his office follow up for dis extradition request for September 2025 when dem come into govment.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">Di attorney general tok say &#8220;di Americans make we understand say dem dey in di process to extradite her to Ghana, if she wan challenge her 10-year sentence, she fit handle am for Ghana.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">&#8220;Dem say dem dey follow di extradition process to execute di request; dem confam to us say soon dem go extradite di fugitive afta dem satisfy all dia processes,&#8221; Dr Dominic Ayine tok parliament on 18 November 2025.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"css-tmqcq9 e1yuyadm0\">E neva dey clear when dem go carry di ex-Masloc boss Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu come Ghana but di kontris ambassador Victor Smith say US authorities say &#8220;she dey await her day for court afta dem arrest and detain her on 6 January 2026.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Wia dis foto come from, SEDINA TAMAKLOE-ATTIONU\/FACEBOOK Wetin we call dis foto, Di high court for Ghana find&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26763,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[79],"class_list":{"0":"post-26762","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ghana","8":"tag-ghana"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26762","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26762"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26762\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26763"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}