Former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Christine Tamakloe-Attionu, has been acquitted and discharged by the Court of Appeal after it unanimously overturned her 2024 conviction and 10-year prison sentence.
The decision, delivered on Thursday, July 30, 2026, marks a major development in one of Ghana's most closely watched corruption cases.
Why Did the Court Acquit Her?
According to the Court of Appeal, the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, which is the legal standard required to secure a criminal conviction in Ghana. The three-member panel held that the evidence presented during the trial was insufficient to support the guilty verdicts returned by the High Court.
The appellate court also found that the trial court lost sight of the constitutional principle that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The judges ruled that the burden of proof always rests on the prosecution and that this burden had not been discharged.
Background to the Case
Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was convicted in April 2024 on multiple charges, including stealing, conspiracy to steal, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, improper payment of public funds and money laundering. She was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment after the High Court found her guilty over allegations relating to the management of public funds during her tenure as MASLOC CEO.
However, she appealed the judgment, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish the offences against her and that the trial process contained significant legal flaws.
Court of Appeal's Findings
In a detailed 94-page judgment, the Court of Appeal concluded that the prosecution's evidence did not satisfy the high standard of proof required in criminal proceedings. Consequently, it set aside all the convictions and sentences imposed by the High Court and entered verdicts of acquittal and discharge on all charges.
An acquittal means the court has cleared the accused of the criminal charges because the prosecution failed to prove its case. A discharge means she is released from all legal consequences arising from those convictions.
What Happens Next?
The legal battle may not be over. Shortly after the Court of Appeal's decision, the Attorney-General announced that the Republic would challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court. The Attorney-General has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to file a notice of appeal and seek a stay of execution of the Court of Appeal's judgment pending the outcome of the Supreme Court proceedings.
The Supreme Court will now determine whether the Court of Appeal correctly interpreted the law and whether its decision to overturn the convictions should stand.
Mantse Ayitey Reports.
