‘I don’t trust that Sedina Tamakloe is in custody’

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has questioned the transparency surrounding the detention of former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, calling on authorities to publicly disclose where she is being held and the conditions of her custody.

Speaking on The Big Issue on Citi FM on Saturday, June 20, Manasseh said he was not convinced by assurances that Sedina Tamakloe is currently in detention, arguing that the authorities have failed to provide clear and verifiable information on the matter.

He noted that there has long been public speculation that some influential individuals convicted in Ghana do not always serve their sentences in official prison facilities.

According to him, many Ghanaians have heard allegations that certain high-profile convicts are housed in undisclosed locations and occasionally moved in and out of detention, a situation he described as deeply concerning.

“This is a whole lot of mess,” he remarked.

Manasseh maintained that there is no legitimate reason for authorities to withhold details about the exact location of a convicted person, including the specific prison or detention facility where they are being held.

He argued that the government could easily state when Sedina Tamakloe arrived in the country and identify the facility where she is being detained, allowing the public to verify the information.

According to him, the absence of such clarity only fuels doubts and erodes public confidence in the justice system.

“I don’t think anything prevents the government from being transparent about where she is being held. When information that should be straightforward is withheld, it naturally creates suspicion,” he said.

Manasseh further stressed that he could not simply accept claims that Sedina Tamakloe was in custody without independent confirmation.

He questioned why authorities could not publicly indicate whether she was being held at a prison facility, police cells, or another approved location.

Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was convicted in absentia in 2024 and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment after being found guilty of causing financial loss to the state and stealing. She was recently extradited from the United States and handed over to Ghanaian security officials upon her return.

Her extradition followed a prolonged legal process initiated by the Government of Ghana after she failed to return from a medical trip abroad while standing trial. She is expected to begin serving her sentence following her return to the country.