The Attorney General is set to meet with US authorities to discuss the rest of the pending extradition cases involving both countries, according to the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.

He revealed this in a formal Facebook post yesterday, Tuesday, June 9, when he announced the arrival of extradited former and embattled  Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, in the early hours of the same day.

“Meanwhile, the Attorney-General is scheduled to meet his counterparts at the United States Department of Justice for a bilateral discussion on all pending extradition requests between the two countries,” he said in the post.

He revealed that the former Chief Executive Officer of the now-defunct MASLOC is in Ghana to serve her 10-year prison sentence handed to her by the Accra High Court after being found guilty of over seventy-eight (78)  charges, including money laundering, misappropriation of public funds, among other financial irregularities, which is said to have cost the state over GHC 70 million.

The Minister said, “In April, 2024, the High Court convicted and sentenced SEDINA TAMAKLOE-ATTIONU in absentia. In July 2024, the Government of Ghana submitted an extradition request to the United States for her surrender to Ghana to serve her sentence. After over two years of court proceedings, the United States authorities notified the Government of her surrender in January this year. She arrived in Accra on Tuesday, June 9, 2026”.

He added that following her arrival, “Officials of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Prisons Service have taken her into custody and are making the necessary preparations for her to begin her sentence”.

According to the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Ms Tamakloe-Attionu.

Meanwhile, following the Minister’s announcement that the former MASLOC CEO had arrived and was undergoing the necessary procedures to start serving her sentence, several netizens expressed doubts about her serving the sentence.

One netizen indicated that until pictures of her arrival are shared, none of the Minister’s words would be taken seriously.“So we can’t see her in handcuffs, and how she was arrested? Settings?”

Another user also indicated that the CEO’s deputy, Daniel Axim, who was tried and found guilty of conspiracy and abetting, didn’t serve the five-year sentence handed him by the court, but he was seen moving freely at Nsawam after the NDC assumed power.

“Interestingly, Sedina Tamakloe's co-defendant, Daniel Axim, was released from Nsawam immediately NDC came to power. This is all settings!”, one user commented under the Minister’s post.

However, the United States has confirmed the extradition of the former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu.

The U.S Embassy in Ghana confirmed the extradition in a Facebook post.

“Justice has no borders. The United States has extradited Sedina Tamakloe Attionu to Ghana, following her conviction on 70+ corruption-related charges, including embezzling more than $6M equivalent in Ghanaian taxpayer funds.

This is our strong U.S.-Ghana law enforcement partnership in action, demonstrating a shared commitment to accountability and the first extradition from the United States to Ghana since 2009”, the US Embassy indicated.

Background

How it started

In 2017, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) launched an investigation into MASLOC’s operations under Sedina Tamakloe Attionu’s leadership during her three-year tenure at the Centre. Following the investigations, EOCo discovered massive financial irregularities and embezzlement by the MASLOC bosses.

Findings

EOCO found fraudulent disbursements of MASLOC funds. Inflated procurement of vehicles and mobile phones without approval from the Public Procurement Authority. misappropriation of funds meant for victims of the 2013 Kantamanto Market fire and questionable ex-gratia payments to herself and her deputy.

Consequently, in January 2019, she was formally arraigned before the High Court on 78 counts, including stealing, conspiracy, causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, and procurement breaches.

After two years of legal tussle, she requested permission to travel to the USA to seek medical care, which was granted; however, she failed to return to Ghana to continue participating in the proceedings, hence she was tried in absentia.

In 2024, the Accra High Court sentenced Attionu in absentia to 10 years’ imprisonment after finding her guilty of multiple offences, including causing financial loss to the state and stealing. The court held that her actions during her tenure as MASLOC Chief Executive between 2013 and 2016 resulted in a financial loss of nearly GH¢90 million to the state.

Following her conviction and sentencing, Ghanaian authorities intensified efforts to secure her return, with the government formally requesting her extradition from the United States in 2025.

A United States District Court in Nevada subsequently considered the extradition request and, after reviewing the application and supporting legal documentation submitted by Ghanaian authorities, certified the request, paving the way for her return to Ghana.

Officials have yet to indicate whether any additional legal proceedings will arise following her return. However, her extradition and transfer to prison are expected to bring closure to a case that has remained in the public spotlight for several years.

Meanwhile, the Ghanaian government was making arrangements to bring her to serve her sentence, but it appeared a bit challenging. Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, disclosed that the United States government has given its word to Ghana that it will not impede the extradition of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori‑Atta and former MASLOC boss Sedina Tamakloe Attionu.

Mr Ablakwa disclosed after a bilateral meeting held on January 13 in Accra with the acting USA Ambassador to Ghana, Rolf Olson and his entourage.

“The United States Government has assured that, without prejudice to judicial processes, it will not stand in the way of Ghana as regards the removal of Ken Ofori‑Atta and Sedina Tamakloe Attionu,” he said.

Currently, one of the former government officials whose extradition many await is Ken Ofori-Atta.