Jailing of former MASLOC Boss should be a warning to all public office holders – Kpemka

Former Deputy Attorney-General,  Joseph Dindiok Kpemka has urged every public office holder to be guided by the recent conviction of the former Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu for causing financial loss to the State and remember at all times that there will  always be a day of accountability.

Speaking on Multimedia’s  Newsfile programme last Saturday, April 20, 2924, Kpemka reiterated that the fate of Ms Sedina Tamakloe Attionu should not be a moment of celebration for anyone but an opportunity for sober reflection.

“When the judgement was read, I posted something on my social media handle. I indicated that it was not a moment for anyone to celebrate; it was not a moment for anyone to be joyous but for us all to have sober reflections… You have to be very, very careful; the day of accountability will come…The fate of Sedina Tamakloe and other persons should be a guide to all public office holders that one day, accountability will knock on your door,” he said.

Kpemka also detailed how the case involving Sedina was so nauseating due to the nature of the crimes committed. He recounted how State funds were stolen and shared as if they were groundnuts.

Background

On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, The Financial and Economic Court 2 of the Accra High Court  convicted and sentenced the former CEO of MASLOC, Sedina Tamakloe Attionu to a ten-year jail term for causing financial loss, amounting GHS90 million, to the state.

The former Chief Operating Officer, Daniel Axim, has received a five-year sentence with hard labor.

They were both found guilty on 78 counts including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, and causing loss to public property, violating public procurement laws.

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

Tamakloe was tried in absentia after she left the country for a medical checkup following court permission, while Axim testified in person but did not call any witnesses.

The charges revolve around misappropriating funds intended for MASLOC activities between 2013 and 2016.

One instance involved the withdrawal of GHc 500,000 as a loan for Obaatampa Savings and Loans company, with the convicts demanding a refund when the financial institution refused to comply with a 24% interest rate.

Despite evidence of the refund, it was not reflected in MASLOC’s accounts.

They were also found guilty of misappropriating over 1.7 million Ghana cedis meant for a sensitization exercise, with only a fraction spent for its intended purpose.

Similarly, funds meant for victims of a fire in Kantamanso were not fully disbursed, with the accused appropriating the remainder. The case also involved the purchase of vehicles and Samsung phones at prices higher than the market rates at the time, suggesting corruption in procurement practices.