Vincent Ekow Assafuah
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has cautioned the government against granting executive clemency to former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive, Sedina Christine Tamakloe Attionu, following a United States court decision approving her extradition to Ghana.Ghanaian cultural events
According to him, any attempt to invoke Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution to pardon or reduce her sentence would undermine public confidence in the justice system and erode the significance of the legal victory secured internationally.
His comments come after the United States District Court certified Sedina Attionu’s extradition, which marks a major step in a protracted legal process over alleged financial misconduct involving MASLOC funds.
In a statement, Mr. Assafuah noted that the U.S. court undertook a comprehensive review of the legal requirements governing extradition before arriving at its decision.
The court established that it had proper jurisdiction over the case, confirming that Attionu had been lawfully arrested in the United States following a formal request by the Government of Ghana.
He further explained that the court affirmed the existence of a valid extradition framework between Ghana and the United States, relying on the 1931 treaty as well as provisions under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
These instruments, he said, remain enforceable and continue to underpin cooperation between the two countries in the fight against corruption.
On the substance of the case, the MP indicated that the court found the offences cited by Ghana, including stealing, conspiracy, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering, to meet the principle of dual criminality, meaning they are recognised under both legal systems.
He added that the court dismissed defence arguments regarding differences in legal definitions, ruling that the alleged misappropriation of public funds constitutes a crime in both jurisdictions.
Mr. Assafuah said the court also determined that there was sufficient evidence to establish probable cause, describing Ghana’s case as compelling.
He noted that the decision relied on detailed affidavits from investigators and prosecutors, as well as Attionu’s prior conviction by a High Court in Ghana on the same charges.
Following these findings, the court formally certified her extradition and ordered her detention pending a final decision by the U.S. Secretary of State, he intimated.
While describing the outcome as a clear victory for Ghana, Mr. Assafuah expressed concern about what he termed a muted public reaction, contrasting it with the heightened attention given to other high-profile cases, including that of Ken Ofori-Atta.Ghanaian cultural events
He also pointed to the recent bail granted to co-accused Daniel Axim as a development that raises concerns about the possible weakening of the case.
“The United States has done its part. The real test now lies with Ghana,” he stressed, urging the government to ensure that justice is fully executed without political interference or recourse to executive convenience.
Mr. Assafuah maintained that allowing clemency in such a high-profile case would send the wrong signal about accountability and weaken public trust in the country’s legal and governance systems.
By Ernest Kofi Adu
Tags: politics, Sedina Christine Tamakloe Attionu, Vincent Ekow Assafuah
