Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Emmanuel Victor Smith, has revealed that officials at Ghana’s mission in the US have not yet been able to make contact with former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, who is currently being held at the Nevada Southern Detention Centre.
Speaking on Accra-based TV3, Ambassador Smith said efforts are ongoing to locate and engage her to determine what consular support the embassy can offer.
“Not yet. [We have not made contact with Sedina Tamakloe.] Nevada is about five and a half hours away from Washington. I am trying to get my officers to see if we can make contact or visit with her,” he stated.
He added that the mission does not yet have details about her legal team in the United States or who is representing her in the ongoing process.
“Not at all, I don’t have that information [regarding her lawyers and representation]. My information is that she is going to see a judge per their proceedings,” the Ambassador said.
According to him, any form of consular support will depend on what Ms Tamakloe requires once contact is successfully established.
“As far as our sister Sedina is concerned, we have not been successful so far, but my officers are working on it, as we tried in the case of our brother Ken, and he declined. Our sister—once we make contact with her, we will try to find out whether she needs any kind of support or assistance. We need to get to her first,” he remarked.
Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was convicted in absentia in April 2024 by an Accra High Court and handed a 10-year prison sentence with hard labour after being found guilty on 78 charges. The offences included causing financial loss of about GH₵90 million to the state, theft, money laundering, conspiracy to steal, and breaches of public procurement laws.
Her former colleague, Daniel Axim, was also convicted in the same case and sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the matter.
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