Why can’t the govt of Ghana ask US authorities to extradite Sedina Tamakloe? – Franklin Cudjoe
Why can’t the govt of Ghana ask US authorities to extradite Sedina Tamakloe? – Franklin Cudjoe
Founding President of IMANI Africa Franklin Cudjoe has wondered why the government of Ghana cannot ask authorities in the United States to extradite the absconded former Chief Executive Officer of the Micro Finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe to come home and serve the 10-year jail term handed her by the court.
Franklin Cudjoe said this while commenting on the decision of an Accra High Court to deny the application by former Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Agyenim Boateng Adjei, for the release of his passport to facilitate travel outside the country.
In April 2024, Mr. Adjei was charged with eight ( counts of using public office for profit and indirectly influencing procurement processes to gain an unfair advantage in the award of procurement contracts. He entered a plea of not guilty.
Following his plea, the court, granted him bail and ordered the accused to present all relevant passports to the court registry.
In court on Wednesday, 24 July 2024, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) opposed the request for the release of his passports.
Commenting on its development on his Facebook page, Mr Cudjoe said “Sad. But the NDC’s Sedinam Tamakloe case is a valid basis for the court’s decision.
“Why is Sedinam Tamakloe running from facing justice after stealing millions? Can’t the state ask US authorities to extradite her to Ghana?”
Apart from Sedina Tamamkloe, the Director of Operations at MASLOC Daniel Axim was also given a 5-year jail term.
They were incarcerated by the Financial and Economic Court 2 of the Accra High Court for causing financial loss to the state.
They had both pleaded not guilty to a combined 78 charges which including conspiracy to steal, stealing, causing financial loss to the State, causing loss to public property, Improper Payment of Public Funds, Unauthorised Commitment resulting in Financial Obligation for the Government, Money Laundering and Contravention of the Public Procurement Act.
In her judgement on Tuesday, April 16, the presiding judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe decried the incidents of the state paying more attention to violent related crimes while offences committed by professionals were much more harmful.
Below is a summary of the judgement:
On the charges of Stealing against A1 and charge of conspiracy to steal against A1 and A2, A1 is sentenced to 10 IHL A2 is sentenced to 5 years IHL.
Charge of wilfully causing financial loss to the state against A1 and conspiracy to wilfully cause financial loss to the state against A1 and A1, A1 sentenced to 3 years and fine of 3,000 in default two years. 12 months and 1000 penalty units default 12 months.
Cause loss to public property A1 is sentenced to 2 years IHL and a fine of 500 penalty units or in default 22 months.
Improper payment. 6 moths on both counts.
Unauthorised commitment… 6 months
Money laundering against A1 and A2. A1 3 years and 2000 penalty in default another 2 years. . A2 2 years and 500 penalty units in default 12 months
The prosecution is directed to undertake forfeiture proceedings against A1 in particular.
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