Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has emphasized the importance of recovering money from former MASLOC CEO Sedina Tamakloe, who has been sentenced to ten years in prison for causing financial loss to the state.
During an appearance on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3, Kpebu expressed his expectation that the prosecution would take steps to confiscate Tamakloe’s assets to facilitate the money’s recovery. This comment follows the incarceration of Tamakloe and MASLOC’s Director of Operations Daniel Axim on charges of causing financial loss to the state.
The prosecution leveled a total of 78 charges against the accused, including conspiracy to steal, stealing, and contravention of the Public Procurement Act. Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, who presided over the case, highlighted the severity of crimes committed by professionals and urged a stronger focus on such offenses.
The court’s judgment was detailed, with Tamakloe receiving various jail terms and fines for charges of stealing, causing financial loss to the state, and improper payment of public funds. The prosecution has been directed to initiate forfeiture proceedings against Tamakloe.
The case stems from investigations conducted by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) in 2017 into fraudulent disbursements of MASLOC funds involving Tamakloe and Axim. The investigations revealed instances where funds were misappropriated, leading to the severe charges brought against the accused.
Among the incidents highlighted in the case were unauthorized withdrawals, misappropriation of funds meant for assistance to fire disaster victims, and inflated procurement prices for vehicles and electronic devices. The detail and breadth of the financial misconduct underscore the need for stringent measures to hold accountable those entrusted with public funds.
