Ex-MASLOC CEO Sedina Tamakloe jailed 10 years for causing financial loss to the State

Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu has been sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour.Also, the former Chief Operating Officer of MASLOC, Daniel Axim, has been handed a five-year jail term with hard labour.

The two were found guilty on 78 counts relating to causing financial loss to the state, theft, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, and contravening public procurement laws.

The trial which began in 2019, saw six witnesses called by the state.

Daniel Axim testified in person but did not present any witnesses.

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The convictions stem from misappropriation of funds allocated for MASLOC activities between 2013 and 2016.

Although evidence of the refund was presented, it was not reflected in MASLOC's accounts.

The duo was also found guilty of misappropriating over GH¢1.7 million allocated for a sensitisation exercise, with only a fraction of the funds used for the intended purpose.

Similarly, funds disbursed for victims of a fire incident at Kantamanso were not fully distributed, with a significant portion misappropriated by the accused.

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The case also involved the purchase of vehicles and Samsung phones for MASLOC, with funds exceeding market prices at the time.

Despite being bought in bulk, evidence suggested that the amounts paid were higher than prevailing market rates.