Godfred Dame demands explanation from AG over Sedina Tamakloe acquittal

Former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame has criticised the Court of Appeal's decision to acquit and discharge former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, arguing that the prosecution presented compelling evidence that justified her conviction at the High Court.

His remarks come after the Court of Appeal unanimously overturned Ms. Tamakloe's conviction and 10-year prison sentence, acquitting and discharging her on all charges.

The three-member panel, made up of Justices Emmanuel Ankamah, Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe and Samuel Obeng-Diawuo, ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The appellate court further held that the trial judge had departed from the constitutional principle that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Reacting to the ruling, Mr. Dame said he was surprised by the outcome and called on the Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, to explain the circumstances that led to the acquittal.

“Sedina was convicted on very credible evidence and he conducted the appeal. So the Attorney-General must explain why he appealed for her to be acquitted. I do not know why she was acquitted,” he said.

The former Attorney-General maintained that the evidence presented during the trial was sufficient to secure a conviction and rejected the Court of Appeal's conclusion that the prosecution failed to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“It cannot be the case that we couldn’t prove our case beyond reasonable doubt. You saw the judgment of the High Court and Sedina absconded after she was confronted with the evidence. So it is not for nothing,” he said.

Mr. Dame further argued that the Attorney-General owes the public an explanation regarding the basis upon which the appeal succeeded, noting that he was yet to see the specific grounds relied upon by the Court of Appeal.

“So the Attorney-General must explain. We do not know the grounds of the appeal,” he said.

Meanwhile, Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to challenge the Court of Appeal's decision at the Supreme Court and has filed an application for a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of the appeal.