By Ashiadey Dotse
Member of Parliament for Garu, Thomas Anabah, has called for strict adherence to the rule of law in the case involving former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedinam Tamakloe Attionu, saying there should be no political interference to either clear or condemn anyone facing criminal charges.
Speaking in an interview on GTV’s Breakfast Show on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, following reports of Sedinam Tamakloe’s arrival in Ghana on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, from the United States to serve her 10-year prison sentence, Dr Anabah stressed that the country’s justice system must be allowed to work without political influence.
“What we need to practise is respect for the rule of law, irrespective of who is alleged to have committed a crime. There should be no political manoeuvring behind the scenes to exonerate somebody or incriminate anybody,” he said.
According to him, every accused person deserves a fair trial, but once a court delivers a conviction, the law must be allowed to take its course.
“If a person is convicted, he goes to jail. If he is not convicted, he walks free,” he stated.
Dr Anabah noted that Sedinam Tamakloe was convicted after the court proceeded with the trial in her absence when she travelled abroad for medical treatment and failed to return. He said the government’s effort to bring her back to Ghana is part of ensuring accountability.
He, however, acknowledged that the former MASLOC boss has a constitutional right to appeal the conviction.
“Appeal is an enshrined right for everybody. Her lawyers have every right to challenge the judgment if they believe there is evidence or legal grounds to do so,” he said.
The Garu MP rejected suggestions that the case should be viewed through a political lens, warning that such arguments could undermine the fight against corruption and accountability.
“We should not jump behind people accused of crimes because they are politicians or political activists. Otherwise, we defeat the purpose of accountability in this country,” he said.
Dr Anabah further argued that any extradition process involving foreign authorities would require proof that the individual received a fair trial and was not being targeted for political reasons.
“If the United States authorities detect even a hint of political persecution, they may not allow the extradition to proceed,” he noted.
He maintained that accountability must apply equally to all public officials regardless of their political affiliations and urged Ghanaians to support efforts to recover public funds and uphold the rule of law.
Former MASLOC CEO Sedinam Tamakloe Attionu was convicted and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on April 16, 2024, by the Accra High Court after being found guilty on multiple counts including causing financial loss to the state, stealing and conspiracy to steal involving MASLOC funds of about US$6 million (2013–2016).
In 2021, she was granted permission to travel to the United States for medical treatment but failed to return to continue her trial, leading to proceedings and conviction in her absence.
Following a successful extradition process initiated in 2025, a US District Court in Nevada certified her extradition in April 2026, and she was subsequently deported and returned to Ghana on June 9, 2026, where she was taken into custody to begin serving her sentence.
She still retains the legal right to appeal the conviction.
