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MASLOC trial: I’II not consider trial in Absentia until sureties appear in court – Judge
The High Court in Accra presided over by Her Ladyship Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe has said it will not hear the application for trial in absentia of Ex-MALOC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sedina Christine Tamakloe Ationu until the two sureties appear before the court.
The court said, before it will consider the motion for her to be tried in absentia, the motion for forfeiture where the sureties are to appear before the court to explain the whereabouts of the 1st Accused is dealt with first.
The former CEO of MASLOC has since October 10, 2021 has been absent from the trial after she was granted permission to seek medical examination out of the country.
At the last court sitting, the state indicated to the court that, it had filed a fresh forfeiture motion against the two sureties who signed the bail bond for her.
However in court on Monday, May 9, 2022, Stella Ohene Appiah, a Principal State Attorney told the court that, even though the sureties are aware of the Forfeiture application, “technically, they have not been served.”
She, therefore, prayed for a two-week adjournment to enable the prosecution serve the sureties, one of them is said to have relocated to the Volta Region but “is not comfortable with EOCO investigator” knowing his new place of abode.
Just when the court was about to adjourned the case, the Principal State Attorney reminded the court about their application for her trial in absentia.
Justice Afia Serwah, therefore, said, until the forfeiture application is heard, he will not consider the application for the Ex-MASLOC CEO trial in absentia.
Fresh Forefeiture motion
On April 25, State prosecutors indicated they have filed a fresh application which sought to haul the two sureties who satisfied the bail conditions of the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Sedinam Tamakloe Attionu over her continuous absence from the trial.
The moved followed a similar application which was earlier withdrawn on March 28 by the prosecution due to procedural challenges.
Sedina Tamakloe was on February 14, 2019 granted bail in the sum of GHc5 million with two sureties by the court, presided over by Mrs Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe.
This was after she pleaded not guilty to 78 counts of causing financial loss to the state, stealing, contravention of the public procurement act, among other charges.
She has since last year October been absent from court sitings after she was said to have travelled out of the country for medical examination.
On April 25, the prosecution led by Stella Ohene Appiah, a Principal State Attorney said, “We have filed a new application for forfeiture.”
She however told the court that, they have not been able to serve it on the sureties.
Mr Gavivina Tamakloe formerly with National Theatre and Alex Kofi Mensah Mould former GNPC CEO are the two persons who stood as sureties for the Ex-Masloc boss.
The forfeiture processes are to compel the sureties to come to the court and explain why they should not pay the GHc5m bail sum to the state.
The judge, Justice Asare-Botwe, has subsequently adjourned the case to May 9, 2022.
Daniel Axim, a former operations Manager of MASLOC is the second accused person and was present in court.
Charges
The former MASLOC CEO and Mr. Axim have been dragged to court for allegedly stealing, causing financial loss to the state to the tune of GH¢93 million, among other charges.
Together, the two are facing 78 counts of charges including conspiracy to steal, stealing, unauthorised commitment, resulting in a financial obligation for the government, improper payment, money laundering and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.
The two accused persons allegedly stole a total amount of GH¢3,198,280 whiles at MASLOC and willfully caused a GH¢1,973,780 financial loss to the State.
Again, Ms. Attionu and her accomplice while in charge of MASLOC allegedly made unauthorized commitments resulting in financial obligations for the government to the tune of GH¢61,735,832.50.
The charges against the two also include a GH¢22,158,118.85 loss to public property and improper payment of GH¢273,743.66 as well as money laundering of GH¢3,704,380 whiles in charge.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
