Sedina Tamakloe- Attionu
The US Marshals Service has provided detailed information on the arrest and detention of former CEO of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Christine Tamakloe-Attionu, who is wanted in Ghana to serve her 10-year jail term.
The details were contained in a response to a request for information pursuant to the US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), by a Ghanaian lawyer, William Nyarko.
According to the information, part of which has been redacted to exclude sensitive information, a warrant of arrest for Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was issued in the US District Court for the District of Nevada on December 12, 2025, for being a fugitive from the Republic of Ghana, pursuant to conviction of embezzlement-related charges, which sought her extradition.
Madam Tamakloe-Attionu, who has been declared a fugitive by a High Court in 2021, has been hiding in the United States since then.
She was arrested and detained by US Marshals on January 6, 2026, and is being held at the Nevada Southern Detention Center pending legal proceedings to have her extradited to Ghana.
Last month, Ghana’s Ambassador to the US, Victor Smith, who confirmed the arrest and detention based on extradition processes initiated by the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, could not provide any further information as the embassy was not able to get in touch with her at the time.
Details have now emerged about the circumstances that led to her arrest and how she was picked up by US officials following a warrant issued by the US District Court for the District of Nevada.
Details of Arrest
According to the information, on January 6, 2026, at approximately 1430 hours, Tamakloe-Attionu was positively identified by the Nevada Violent Offenders Task Force (NVOTF), opening her front door and then closing it, returning into her residence.
At approximately 1505 hours, NVOTF approached the residence to execute the arrest warrant. A knock and announce was conducted and contact was made with Tamakloe-Attionu at the front door when she opened it, the report said.
It continued that Tamakloe-Attionu was placed in restraints and searched on scene before being placed in the back seat of Task Force Officer (TFO) (redacted) vehicle.
“Tamakloe-Attionu was transported by TFO (redacted) followed by DUSMI (redacted) to the Federal Courthouse located at 333 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV, 89101,” it said.
It further indicated that she was transported to Henderson Detention Center, located at 18 E Basic Rd, Henderson, NV, 89015, a USMS contracted holding facility, where she was held overnight.
“On 01/07/2026, Henderson Police Department transported Tamakloe-Attionu to the Federal Courthouse, at approximately 0830 hours, where she was booked into USMS custody,” the report added.
Conviction
A High Court in Accra, in April 2024, convicted and sentenced Madam Tamakloe-Attionu to 10 years’ imprisonment in hard labour for causing financial loss of over GH¢93 million to the state.
The convict has been hiding in the United States since 2021, after she refused to return to the country to face trial when she was granted leave by the court to travel for a medical check-up.
A High Court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting as an additional High Court judge, in April 2024, convicted and sentenced Madam Tamakloe-Attionu to 10 years’ imprisonment after finding her guilty of causing financial loss to the state.
Madam Tamakloe-Attionu was sentenced to a total of 21 years’ imprisonment in hard labour for stealing (10 years), causing financial loss to the state (3 years), causing loss to public property (2 years), improper payment (6 months), unauthorised commitment resulting in a financial obligation for the government (6 months), money laundering (3 years) and contravention of the Public Procurement Act (2 years).
She was also fined a total of GH¢78,000 for the offences and, in default, she will serve another six years in jail.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak