The Attorney-General has announced plans to challenge the Court of Appeal's decision acquitting former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, signalling that the legal battle over the high-profile corruption case is far from over.
In a statement issued on Thursday, July 30, the Attorney-General said he had directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to immediately file a notice of appeal at the Supreme Court, together with an application for a stay of execution of the Court of Appeal's judgment pending the final determination of the case.
The move comes just hours after the Court of Appeal unanimously overturned Ms Tamakloe's conviction and 10-year prison sentence, acquitting and discharging her on all 78 charges.
State insists appeal will succeed
According to the Attorney-General, the Republic had opposed the appeal before the Court of Appeal by filing written submissions, arguing that the former MASLOC boss's appeal lacked merit and should have been dismissed.
Despite the appellate court's decision, the Attorney-General expressed confidence that the matter would ultimately be resolved in the State's favour.
"The Attorney-General remains committed to the due process of law and is confident that the appeal before the Supreme Court will succeed," the statement said.
The Attorney-General's office also confirmed that it is seeking to halt the effect of the Court of Appeal's ruling while the Supreme Court considers the case.
Case centred on 78 criminal charges
Sedina Tamakloe was tried in absentia before the High Court's Financial Division 2, presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, sitting as an additional High Court judge.
She was convicted on 78 counts involving allegations of conspiracy to steal, stealing, conspiracy to cause financial loss to the State, causing financial loss to the State, causing loss to public property, improper payment of public funds, unauthorised commitments resulting in financial obligations to government, money laundering and breaches of the Public Procurement Act.
Following her conviction, she was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment.
The prosecution had argued that she misappropriated public funds during her tenure as MASLOC Chief Executive through several transactions and programmes.
Supreme Court now expected to decide
The Attorney-General's latest decision ensures that the case will move to Ghana's highest court, where judges will be asked to review the Court of Appeal's unanimous ruling.
The Court of Appeal had earlier concluded that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and ordered that Ms Tamakloe be acquitted and discharged.
With the State now seeking both a stay of execution and a substantive appeal, the long-running MASLOC prosecution enters another significant phase, placing the final outcome in the hands of the Supreme Court.
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