Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has criticised the Interior Minister’s explanation regarding the whereabouts of former MASLOC Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, arguing that it has raised more questions than answers about transparency and accountability.
His comments come amid ongoing public debate over whether the convicted former MASLOC boss is currently serving her sentence in prison custody. The controversy follows assurances by Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak that Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu is under the custody of the Ghana Prisons Service, although he declined to disclose the specific correctional facility where she is being held.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsight, Mr Baffour Awuah said the minister’s attempt to settle the matter had instead deepened public uncertainty about her custodial status and location.
“When you listen to him, what is clear is that he sought to put finality to the controversy, but he has created more controversy,” he said.
The Manhyia South MP questioned why government had chosen not to reveal the prison facility where Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu is serving her sentence, arguing that such information should ordinarily be reflected in official records relating to a person’s incarceration.
He maintained that the absence of publicly verifiable documentation confirming her transfer into prison custody undermines confidence in the government’s explanation.
“Where are the records confirming that she’s in prison? Where are the records?” he asked.
According to Mr Baffour Awuah, the incarceration of a convicted person follows established legal and administrative procedures, including the issuance of a warrant and the formal transfer of the individual from police custody into the care of the Ghana Prisons Service.
“There are processes that lead to a person being taken into prison custody. There is a warrant which is supposed to evidence the person having been delivered into the custody of the prison service by the police,” he explained.
The lawmaker further argued that concerns about transparency and accountability cannot be dismissed solely on the basis of security considerations, particularly in a matter that has attracted significant public interest.
He also questioned whether Parliament had adequately exercised its oversight responsibilities in relation to the issue, suggesting that a formal parliamentary inquiry could have compelled the Interior Minister to provide more detailed information.
According to Mr Baffour Awuah, greater disclosure and adherence to established procedures are necessary to reassure the public and maintain confidence in the administration of justice and the operations of state institutions.
