Report by Apeke Rosemary- 22/04/2024
In a landmark ruling today, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, and ex-Chief Operating Officer Daniel Axim, have been handed severe sentences for their roles in a high-profile financial scandal. The court sentenced Tamakloe-Attionu to 10 years in prison with hard labor, while Axim received a five-year jail term with hard labor. This comes after they were found guilty on a staggering 78 counts related to causing financial loss to the state, theft, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, and contravening public procurement laws.
The trial, which spanned over several years since its commencement in 2019, concluded with damning evidence presented by six witnesses called by the state. Notably, Tamakloe-Attionu was tried in absentia as she absconded following court permission for a purported medical check-up abroad.
The convictions centered on the misappropriation of funds earmarked for MASLOC activities during the period from 2013 to 2016. Among the numerous charges, one instance highlighted the duo’s audacious withdrawal of GH₵500,000 as a loan from Obaatampa Savings and Loans company. When the institution refused to comply with their demands for a 24% interest rate, they demanded a refund. Shockingly, while evidence of the refund surfaced during proceedings, it mysteriously failed to reflect in MASLOC’s financial records, raising serious concerns about the organization’s transparency and accountability.
Additionally, Tamakloe-Attionu and Axim were found guilty of diverting over 1.7 million Ghana cedis allocated for a sensitization exercise. According to the prosecution, MASLOC was tasked with providing 20 Ghana cedis each to a staggering 85,300 beneficiaries, amounting to the substantial sum. However, investigations revealed a blatant misappropriation of these funds, casting a dark shadow over the organization’s integrity.
The verdict sends a strong message about the Ghanaian government’s commitment to rooting out corruption and holding accountable those entrusted with public funds. As the nation grapples with the aftermath of this scandal, calls for greater transparency and oversight in public institutions resonate louder than ever, underscoring the need for stringent measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
In the wake of this landmark ruling, questions linger about the broader implications for governance and accountability across Ghana’s public sector, as citizens demand swift and decisive action to restore trust and confidence in the country’s institutions.
