US arrest, detain ex-Ghana govment official Sedina Tamakloe wey run from her 10-year jail term
Wia dis foto come from, SEDINA TAMAKLOE-ATTIONU/FACEBOOK
Di Ghana embassy for di US confam say authorities arrest ex-Ghana govment official, wey dey run away from justice since 2019.
Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu wey be di CEO of di kontris microfinance and small loans centre (Masloc) between 2013 and 2016, comot Ghana afta she ask permission from di court for medical check-up abroad.
She neva return to face trail as di state charge her and one of her deputy CEO for causing financial loss to di kontri and embezzlement of public moni.
Inside one statement wey di Ghana ambassador Victor Smith sign for 15 January 2026, dem confam say she currently dey "detention."
"I fit confam say dem arrest Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu wey dem detain her for di Nevada Southern Detention Center."
Ambassador Smith add say "US Marshals detain am on 6 January 2026 as dem dey act on one extradition request wey Ghana send to US authorities for July 2024."
E tok for di statement say US authorities go soon put her bifor court.
Wia dis foto come from, SCREENGRAB
Ex-finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta also dey detention for US
Dis latest gist dey happun at a time US customs and immigration officers arrest and detain di ex-finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta also for immigration irregularities.
Local media network TV3 quote ICE as dem tok say "Kenneth Ofori-Atta be illegal alien from Ghana wey dey face corruption charges for his home kontri."
"Di ex-finance minister enta di US for 28 May 2025 wit visitor's visa wey get expiry date of 27 November 2025. Ken Ofori-Atta overstay his permitted stay," di ICE tok-tok pesin clarify.
Di enforcement team detain di ex-minister on Tuesday 6 January 2026 for di Caroline Detention facility for Virginia.
Ken Ofori-Atta, di ex-minister dey face 78 corruption and related charges for Ghana.
Lawyers for di ex-finance minister for Ghana inside dia statement say "his US legal team dey in contact wit ICE wey dem expect to address di mata quick quick."
"Oga Ofori-Atta get pending petition for adjustment of status wey go allow pesin to stay for di US legally past di period of validity of dia visa," di statement wey Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo don sign explain.
On 18 December, Ghana attorney general and minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine confam say im office don formally send extradition request for di ex-finance minister and im alleged accomplice – one Ernest Akore (Ken chief of staff when im dey office as finance minister), to di US.
Im confam say dem begin di process on 19 November 2025 when dem submit di request for commencement of extradition proceedings against di two pipo.
Dr Ayine add during dat press conference say dem submit di request to di department of justice for America wey he add say di decision now dey for di hands of American authorities.
"At dis point, na di US authorities especially di judicial authorities wey go determine whether sufficient evidence dey wey go demand say make di two accused pipo – di ex-finance minister and im chief of staff, dey extradited to Ghana to stand trial."
His lawyers consistently tok say dia client (di ex-finance minister) dey innocent of all di corruption charges wey he neva dey run away from accountability.
Wia dis foto come from, MINISTRY OF FINANCE
High court sentence Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu to 10 years in jail in absentia
For 16 April 2024, High court for Ghana sentence di ex-CEO for di microfinance centre to 10 years in jail wit hard labour.
Di court also sentence her chief operating officer Daniel Axim to five years in prison wit hard labour.
Dem do di trial of Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu from 2019 to 2024 in absentia sake of she comot Ghana wey she neva return till now, even afta dem convict her.
Di court find di two pipo guilty on 78 counts of causing financial loss to d state, theft, conspiracy to steal, money laundering among odas.
Six witnesses testify for di state for dat case, her co-accused pesin di chief operating officer Daniel Axim testify for di court but he neva present any witness.
Prosecution allege say Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu and her co-accused embezzle GHC 3.19m ($295k) during her time as CEO wey dem cause financial loss of GHC 1.97m ($182K) to di state.
Dem also dey accused say dem make "unauthorized commitment wey result in financial obligation to di amount of GHC 61.4m ($6m) for di govment."
Di charges also include GHC 22.15m ($2.1m) in property loss, improper payment of GHC 274K ($26K) and laundering of GHC 3.7m ($342k).
Di high court find di two pipo guilty wey dem sentence dem to 10 years and five years respectively.
But Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu neva return to di kontri to serve her jail term
Wia dis foto come from, SEDINA TAMAKLOE-ATTIONU/FACEBOOK
Ghana submit extradition request to di US for di convicted ex-Masloc CEO
Ghana first present di extradition request for di ex-Masloc CEO under di previous govment in July 2024.
Di current attorney general Dr. Dominic Ayine confam say his office follow up for dis extradition request for September 2025 when dem come into govment.
Di attorney general tok say "di Americans make we understand say dem dey in di process to extradite her to Ghana, if she wan challenge her 10-year sentence, she fit handle am for Ghana."
"Dem say dem dey follow di extradition process to execute di request; dem confam to us say soon dem go extradite di fugitive afta dem satisfy all dia processes," Dr Dominic Ayine tok parliament on 18 November 2025.
E neva dey clear when dem go carry di ex-Masloc boss Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu come Ghana but di kontris ambassador Victor Smith say US authorities say "she dey await her day for court afta dem arrest and detain her on 6 January 2026."
