The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has described the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit and discharge former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer Sedina Tamakloe Attionu as a “travesty of justice,” while the Attorney-General has announced plans to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.
The Court of Appeal on Thursday overturned Tamakloe’s conviction and 10-year prison sentence, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The decision also set aside the April 2024 judgment of the High Court, which had convicted her in absentia on 78 counts, including stealing, conspiracy to steal, causing financial loss to the state, money laundering and breaches of the Public Procurement Act.
Reacting to the ruling, the NPP accused the government of undermining the criminal justice system and alleged that the acquittal was politically motivated.
In a statement signed by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the NPP claimed the decision was “orchestrated and planned,” pointing out that it came only weeks after Tamakloe was extradited from the United States and returned to Ghana on June 9, 2026.
The party further alleged that the Attorney-General had, since January 2025, systematically discontinued criminal proceedings involving persons affiliated with the governing party.
“What could not be achieved through the front door of a nolle prosequi given that the accused stood already convicted, has now been achieved through the back door,” the statement said.
The NPP argued that the ruling sends the wrong signal about accountability and equal treatment under the law.
“The pattern is unmistakable: if you are connected to the government of the day, the criminal justice system will find a way to set you free, no matter how grave the findings against you, and no matter how many millions of Ghana cedis of the people’s money are involved,” the statement added.
The opposition party maintained that the trial, which lasted about five years, produced substantial evidence that led the High Court to convict Tamakloe.
“Anyone who has carefully read the judgment of Her Ladyship Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe convicting Madam Tamakloe Attionu will appreciate the sheer weight of evidence that was available to the court,” the statement noted.
The party also questioned the speed with which the appeal was determined following Tamakloe’s extradition and imprisonment.
NPP’s Demands
The NPP made several demands in response to the Court of Appeal’s ruling, including:
- That the Attorney-General immediately discontinue the prosecution of all former appointees of the previous NPP administration “as a matter of consistency and fairness.”
- That Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, be acquitted and discharged, arguing that his conviction and 20-year prison sentence were politically motivated and unsupported by sufficient evidence.
- That the Attorney-General publish a full account of all criminal cases involving persons affiliated with the governing party that have been withdrawn, discontinued or otherwise terminated since January 2025, together with the reasons for those decisions.
- That the Judicial Council and the leadership of the Judiciary take urgent steps to restore public confidence in the administration of justice, which the party claimed had been seriously undermined by the Court of Appeal’s decision.
The statement ended with a sharp criticism of the government.
“The message this government has sent to the world today is chilling: in Ghana, accountability is for opponents, and impunity is for friends,” it stated.
The NPP also pledged to pursue every lawful avenue to ensure accountability for what it described as the misuse of public funds.
“The fight against corruption cannot and must not be a partisan convenience. Ghana deserves better. The public purse belongs to the people, not to any political party,” the statement concluded.
Attorney-General to Challenge Ruling
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to immediately file an appeal at the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal’s decision.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the Attorney-General also instructed that an application for a stay of execution of the judgment be filed while the appeal is pending.
The Attorney-General expressed confidence in the state’s case, stating that the government remains committed to due process and believes the Supreme Court will overturn the Court of Appeal’s ruling.
The latest developments set the stage for a major legal battle at Ghana’s highest court as both the state and the opposition NPP seek to challenge the acquittal through the judicial process.
