Court of Appeal Strikes Out AG’s Bid to Stay Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu’s Acquittal

The Court of Appeal has struck out as withdrawn an application by the Attorney-General seeking to stay the execution of its decision acquitting and discharging former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Christine Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu.

The State informed the court on Wednesday, August 12, that it had filed a notice of withdrawal on August 10, bringing the application before the Court of Appeal to an end.

The withdrawal comes as the State pursues a further appeal at the Supreme Court. The Attorney-General has since initiated the appeal process at the apex court.

The State had originally asked the Court of Appeal to suspend the effect of its acquittal pending the determination of the further appeal.

The Attorney-General argued that allowing the acquittal to take immediate effect could create an opportunity for Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu to leave the jurisdiction, potentially making it difficult for the State to pursue its appeal.

Defence questions withdrawal procedure

Counsel for Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu, Sidney Antonio, raised concerns about the manner in which the application was withdrawn.

According to the defence, the Attorney-General ought to have sought the court’s permission before filing the notice of withdrawal, particularly because August 12 had already been scheduled for the court to deliver its ruling on the application.

Speaking to the media after proceedings, Mr Antonio said the defence expected the court to proceed with the scheduled ruling.

“Today’s date was given by the court for the court to deliver its ruling, and we were just served yesterday with a notice of withdrawal,” he said.

He maintained that the proper procedure would have been for the Attorney-General to seek leave of the court before withdrawing the application.

Mr Antonio was also asked about reports that the Attorney-General had filed a similar application before the Supreme Court following the withdrawal of the Court of Appeal application.

He said the defence had not been formally served with any such motion.

“We have not been served formally with any such motion, but as you have heard we have also heard about it,” he said.

Background to the case

The development follows the Court of Appeal’s decision in July 2026 to overturn the 10-year prison sentence imposed on Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu by the Accra High Court in April 2024.

The appellate court acquitted and discharged her after finding that the prosecution had failed to prove its case.

Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu had been convicted by the High Court on 78 counts, including stealing, causing financial loss to the state and money laundering, and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Following the acquittal, the Attorney-General sought to stay its effect while pursuing a further appeal.

With the Court of Appeal application now withdrawn, the State’s challenge has moved to the Supreme Court.