A United States District Court in Nevada has approved the extradition of former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Christine Tamakloe-Attionu, to Ghana to serve her 10-year prison sentence.

The court held that it has jurisdiction over both the extradition proceedings and the accused person, and affirmed that the extradition treaty between the United States and Ghana remains valid and enforceable.

It further ruled that the individual before it is indeed the same person sought by Ghanaian authorities, and confirmed that all supporting documents submitted by Ghana were properly certified.

The court also found that there is sufficient probable cause to believe she committed the offences for which Ghana is seeking her return.

Consequently, the court certified her extradition and ordered that she be placed in the custody of the United States Marshals Service, pending a final decision by the U.S. Secretary of State on her surrender to Ghana.

Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was convicted in Ghana in April 2024 and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour on multiple charges, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, conspiracy, money laundering, and procurement breaches.

Court records show she absconded during trial after being granted permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Her extradition marks a major step in efforts by Ghanaian authorities to enforce the judgment and ensure she serves her sentence.

The case has drawn significant public attention as part of broader efforts to recover state funds linked to alleged financial misconduct at MASLOC.

Background

In April 2024, she was convicted on 78 counts, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, and breaches of the Public Procurement Act, and sentenced to 10 years with hard labour.

Her co-accused, former MASLOC Chief Operating Officer Daniel Axim, was also sentenced to five years with hard labour.

The prosecution said the offences occurred between 2013 and 2016 and involved alleged misappropriation of funds under MASLOC programmes. The trial, which began in 2019, featured six prosecution witnesses.

Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was tried in absentia after failing to return from medical travel abroad, while her co-accused participated throughout the trial.

Among the findings was the withdrawal of GH¢500,000 as a loan to Obaatampa Savings and Loans Company, later refunded but not reflected in MASLOC accounts.

The court also found that over GH¢1.7 million earmarked for a sensitisation exercise was misused, with only a fraction applied to its intended purpose. Additionally, only GH¢579,800 of GH¢1.4 million allocated for victims of the Kantamanso inferno was disbursed.

There were also findings of inflated procurement costs for vehicles and mobile phones, with payments significantly above prevailing market prices.