The United States (U.S.) Court will decide today, Wednesday, January 21, whether or not to extradite the Former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, to Ghana.

Her extradition will ensure that she faces the law after she and the former Chief Operating Officer of MASLOC, Daniel Axim, were found guilty on charges including causing financial loss to the state, theft, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, and contravening public procurement laws in 2024.

An Accra High Court issued an arrest warrant for Sedina Christine Attionu Tamakloe. This action followed an ex-parte motion filed by State Prosecutors. Assistant State Attorney Yvonne Yaache-Adomako, who addressed the court on April 22, 2024, stated that Tamakloe was convicted on all 78 counts against her.

Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu received 10 years in prison, while Daniel Axim received a 5-year sentence. Madam Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was tried in absentia after absconding abroad under the pretext of a medical check-up.

Daniel Axim testified in person but did not present any witnesses.The government successfully located the former CEO of MASLOC. Despite being sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor, Tamaklo fled abroad.

During that period, the government collaborated with partners in the United States to facilitate Tamaklo’s return to Ghana.

The convictions are linked to the misappropriation of funds allocated for MASLOC activities between 2013 and 2016. Notably, the accused withdrew GH₵500,000 as a loan from Obaatampa Savings and Loans company and demanded a refund when the company refused to offer a 24% interest rate.

Despite evidence of the refund, it was not reflected in MASLOC’s accounts. Additionally, the pair misappropriated over GH¢1.7 million intended for a sensitization exercise, with only a small portion used as planned.

Funds designated for victims of a fire incident at Kantamanso were also misappropriated, and there were discrepancies in the purchase of vehicles and Samsung phones for MASLOC.

Currently, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu is in U.S detention following an extradition request by the Ghanaian government.

MASLOC is an apex body responsible for implementing the Government of Ghana’s microfinance programmes targeted at reducing poverty. It was established in 2006 to grant loans to start-ups and small businesses to help them grow and expand as part of its core functions.

Recently a collaboration between the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) and the National Security operatives have resulted in the seizure of three out of five government vehicles which were in possession of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

This information was disclosed by the Deputy Women Organizer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Abigail Elorm Mensah who also doubles as the CEO of MASLOC on Wednesday, September 10.

Speaking to Citi News, the retrieval of vehicles from Wontumi is in line with a broader initiative to recover government loans and vehicles from defaulters.

She noted that Chairman Wontumi adds up to one of the many individuals who receive loans and vehicles from the institutions but have refused to fulfill the terms of the agreement.

According to the CEO of MASLOC, her outfit is working tirelessly to ensure Chairman Wontumi returns the two other government-owned cars.

“I have gone with National Security operatives to the house of the Chairman of the NPP in Ashanti Region, Chairman Wontumi. Three cars. In fact, the cars were five. We’ve retrieved three. I have collected all from his house. We are still chasing him for the two.

"He has to pay for them. What we do is that once I seize the cars, the agreement we have with you is that you would have to repay whatever has accrued, and we release the cars to you,” she said.

The CEO of MASLOC mentioned that, “Between February and now, I have recovered roughly about GHS8 million, but that is not even up to 10% of what is in debt. We have in debt over GHS430m”.

In the meantime, former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is scheduled to appear before a United States (U.S.) immigration court in Virginia on April 27, 2026, over his immigration status in the country.

The embattled former minister was detained on 6 January 2026 in Washington, D.C., by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); however, he appeared before the court on Tuesday, January 20.

According to reports, ICE has reportedly determined that Mr Ofori-Atta no longer has lawful status to remain in the United States, a development many believe could help expedite Ghana’s extradition process of the former Minister to Ghana.

Ken Ofori-Atta left Ghana for the United States on January 4, 2025, according to investigative reporting detailing his departure timeline and visa use. As of today, January 8, 2026, that places his time in the U.S. at approximately 1 year and 12 days, following which he has been detained.

Deputy Attorney General, Dr Srem-Sai, clarified a widely reported narrative about the circumstances surrounding Ghana’s Former Finance Minister’s arrest and detainment by immigration authorities in the United States (US).