US extradite ex-CEO of Ghana Microfinance and Small Loans Centre Sedina Tamakloe wey run away from her 10-year-jail term to Ghana

Di US don send former CEO of di Ghana Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (Masloc) to Ghana afta she run away from her 10-year-jail term.

Di High Court for Ghana bin sentence Sedina Tamakloe Attionu to 10 years in prison in absentia afta her trial.

Sedina wey be di CEO of Masloc between 2013 and 2016, comot Ghana afta she ask permission from di court for medical check-up abroad during di trial for 2019.

She neva return to face trial as di state charge her and one of her deputy CEO for causing financial loss to di kontri and embezzlement of public moni.

US authorities bin arrest Sedina for January 2026 wey dem detain her so di US court go rule ontop her extradition afta Ghana bin send request to di US for 2024.

"I fit confam say dem arrest Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu wey dem detain her for di Nevada Southern Detention Center," Ghana ambassador to di US Victor Smith tok on 15 January.

Ambassador Smith add say, "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."

Five months later, US authorities confam say dem finally send di ex-Ghana govment official back to her kontri to face di law.

Inside one statement on top di US embassy for Ghana social media page, dem tok say "Justice no get borders".

"Di United States don extradite Sedina Tamakloe Attionu to Ghana, afta her conviction ova more dan 70 corruption-related charges, wey include embezzling more dan $6M of Ghana taxpayer moni."

Dem add say "dis be our strong U.S.-Ghana law enforcement partnership wey dey in action; dia dem show say we dey committed to accountability".

Dis be di first extradition from di United States to Ghana since 2009.

E no dey clear at dis time weda she go enta prison straight to begin her 10-year-jail term or she go file appeal for di 2019 judgement.

Background to di tori

For 16 April, 2024, High Court for Ghana sentence di ex-CEO for di microfinance centre to 10 years in jail wit hard labour.

Di court also sentence her chief operating officer Daniel Axim to five years in prison wit hard labour.

Dem do di trial of Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu from 2019 to 2024 in absentia sake of say she comot Ghana wey she bin no return, even afta dem convict her.

Di court find di two pipo guilty on 78 counts of causing financial loss to di state, theft, conspiracy to steal, money laundering among odas.

Six witnesses testify for di state for dat case, her co-accused pesin wey be di chief operating officer Daniel Axim testify for di court but e neva present any witness.

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.

Dem also dey accused say dem make "unauthorised commitment wey result in financial obligation to di amount of GHC 61.4m ($6m) for di govment."

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).

Di high court find di two pipo guilty wey dem sentence dem to 10 years and five years respectively.

But Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu bin no return to di kontri to serve her jail term.

Wetin Ghana govment tok afta her extradition to di kontri

Govment tok-tok pesin Felix Kwakye Ofosu confam say di ex-Masloc CEO dey di kontri.

"Sedina Tamakloe Attionu arrive on Tuesday 9 June afta court processes wey last ova two years," oga Ofosu Kwakye tok.

Im add say, "US authorities alert Ghana govment of her surrender for January dis year."

Govment communication minister explain say "officers of di Ghana police and Ghana prisons don carry her into custody wey dem bin dey make di necessary arrangement make she start her sentence".

"Meanwhile, di Attorney General bin dey scheduled to meet dia counterpart for di US department of Justice for discussion about all oda pending extradition request between di two kontris."