The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has announced plans to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit and discharge former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Attionu Tamakloe, of all charges.

In a statement issued on Thursday, July 30, the Attorney-General disclosed that he has instructed the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to immediately file a notice of appeal at the Supreme Court. He also directed the DPP to apply for a stay of execution of the Court of Appeal’s judgment pending the final determination of the appeal.

The announcement comes after the Court of Appeal unanimously overturned Ms Tamakloe’s conviction and 10-year prison sentence, ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The three-member appellate panel, made up of Justices Emmanuel Ankamah, Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe and Samuel Obeng-Diawuo, held that the evidence presented by the prosecution did not meet the legal threshold required to sustain the convictions.

The Court of Appeal also faulted the trial court’s approach, stating that the trial judge failed to properly apply the constitutional principle that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Although acknowledging the appellate court’s ruling, the Attorney-General said the Republic disagrees with the outcome and intends to pursue the matter at the country’s highest court.

“The Attorney-General has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to immediately file a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court, together with an application for a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of the appeal,” the statement said.

The Attorney-General further expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would overturn the decision, adding that his office remains committed to ensuring justice is pursued through the legal process.

“The Attorney-General remains committed to the due process of law and is confident that the appeal before the Supreme Court will succeed,” the statement added.

Ms Tamakloe was initially charged with 78 offences, including conspiracy to steal, stealing, conspiracy to cause financial loss to the state, causing financial loss to the state, causing loss to public property, improper payment of public funds, unauthorised commitments resulting in financial obligations to the government, money laundering and breaches of the Public Procurement Act.

She was tried and convicted in absentia by the High Court (Financial Division 2), presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, who was sitting as an additional High Court judge. She was subsequently sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.

The Republic had opposed her appeal, arguing that it lacked merit and should be dismissed. However, the Court of Appeal set aside the convictions and ordered that the former MASLOC CEO be acquitted and discharged, a decision the Attorney-General is now seeking to overturn before the Supreme Court.