Director of Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, has dismissed criticisms by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit and discharge former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, describing the party’s position as politically motivated.
According to him, the NPP’s National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, is under pressure from the party’s grassroots following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 general election and is using the issue to regain political relevance ahead of the party’s internal elections.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Mr Tamakloe said Ghana is governed by the rule of law and not by the wishes of individuals.
“I think we have gotten to a point where we all understand that we have subscribed to the rule of law, not the rule of men or based on one’s wishes,” he said.
He claimed Nana B’s recent press conference was driven by internal political considerations rather than legal concerns.
“Obviously Nana B has a major election ahead of him, and the people he is competing with make it difficult for him. So he wants issues that will make him desirable among the delegates of the NPP. However, according to the delegates, he led them through one of the worst electoral defeats for the NPP. That is why he is putting himself into this judgment to remain relevant,” he stated.
Mr Tamakloe defended the Court of Appeal’s ruling, saying criminal appeals are governed by law and that the appellate judges had properly explained the legal basis for their decision.
“Criminal appeal is a creature of statute that gives you the appropriate approach to appeal against a judgment. The justices of the Court of Appeal have laid the law bare for everyone,” he said.
While acknowledging that Nana B had the right to disagree with the judgment, Mr Tamakloe argued that his criticisms lacked legal merit.
“It is okay for Nana B to criticise the judgment; that is what democracy is about. But in criticising it, you need to ask yourself the merit and basis of your criticism. I have listened to him and I don’t see why he is trying to draw the government into this issue. There is no basis for Nana B’s claim. I don’t even know why he involved government in the matter,” he added.
His comments come after the NPP described the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit and discharge Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu as politically motivated, alleging that the ruling formed part of a broader scheme to overturn corruption-related convictions involving former NDC officials.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, July 31, Nana B argued that the acquittal was not based on the merits of the appeal despite what he described as overwhelming evidence that had led to the former MASLOC CEO’s conviction by the High Court on charges including stealing, causing financial loss to the state, money laundering and breaches of the Public Procurement Act.
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