The former Chief Executive Officer of the Micro Finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe, has been sentenced to a 10-year jail term by the Financial and Economic Court 2 of the Accra High Court for causing financial loss to the state. Along with the Director of Operations at MASLOC, Daniel Axim, who was handed a 5-year jail term, they were found guilty of multiple charges including conspiracy to steal, stealing, and improper payment of public funds.
Legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has noted that the conditions of Ghana’s prisons could pose a challenge in securing the extradition of Tamakloe from the country she is currently residing in. He emphasized that extradition is backed by international law, but some countries have previously refused extradition based on the inhuman conditions of Ghanaian prisons. However, Kpebu remains optimistic that Tamakloe will be brought back to Ghana to serve her sentence.
Speaking on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3, Kpebu highlighted that while there may be challenges in the extradition process, many countries do cooperate with Ghana in such cases. He also expressed the expectation for the prosecution to confiscate Tamakloe’s assets as part of the legal proceedings.
The judgement handed down by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe highlighted the severity of the charges against Tamakloe and Axim. The State outlined a series of fraudulent activities committed by the accused persons, including the misappropriation of funds meant for various projects and the illegal procurement of vehicles at inflated prices.
The case dates back to 2017 when the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) conducted investigations into fraudulent disbursements of MASLOC funds involving Tamakloe and Axim. The investigations revealed a pattern of financial misconduct and mismanagement by the accused persons, resulting in significant losses to the state.
Despite the challenges posed by the conditions of Ghanaian prisons, there is hope that justice will prevail and Tamakloe will be held accountable for her actions. The legal proceedings surrounding this case serve as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in public office.
