Former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, has arrived in Ghana following her extradition from the United States to begin serving a 10-year prison sentence imposed by the Accra High Court.
Her return marks a major milestone in one of Ghana’s most closely watched corruption-related cases involving a former public official and is being viewed as a significant achievement in international judicial cooperation.
Sedina Attionu arrived at the Accra International Airport on Tuesday, June 9, aboard United Airlines flight UA 996 from Washington Dulles International Airport.
Sources familiar with the process confirmed that she was met by security personnel upon arrival and immediately taken into custody. She is currently undergoing routine debriefing and medical examinations before being transferred to the Ghana Prisons Service to commence her sentence.
Officials have indicated that the administrative and security procedures are standard requirements for individuals returning under extradition arrangements.
The former MASLOC boss was convicted in absentia by the Accra High Court in 2024 after being found guilty of multiple offences, including causing financial loss to the state and stealing.
The court ruled that actions undertaken during her tenure as MASLOC Chief Executive between 2013 and 2016 resulted in a financial loss estimated at nearly GH¢90 million.
The case stemmed from longstanding allegations involving the misappropriation and diversion of state resources at the government-backed microfinance institution.
From Medical Leave to Extradition
Sedina Attionu had been granted permission by the High Court in 2021 to travel to the United States for medical treatment while her trial was ongoing. However, she failed to return to Ghana to continue participating in the proceedings.
As a result, the court proceeded with the trial in her absence, ultimately leading to her conviction and sentencing.
Following the judgment, the Government of Ghana intensified efforts to secure her return. In 2025, Ghana formally submitted an extradition request to United States authorities.
After reviewing the request and supporting legal documents, a U.S. District Court in Nevada certified the extradition application, paving the way for her transfer back to Ghana.
The extradition is widely regarded as a landmark development in Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts and a demonstration of the country's ability to pursue convicted public officials across international jurisdictions.
While authorities have not indicated whether any additional legal proceedings will follow, her return is expected to bring closure to a case that has remained in the public spotlight for several years.
For anti-corruption advocates, the successful extradition reinforces the principle that public officials convicted of financial crimes can be held accountable, regardless of where they relocate after legal proceedings begin.
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