Dame Breaks Silence: Says Sedina Appeal Claims Are “False, Devious”
Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame has dismissed claims that his office was aware of an appeal filed in 2024 by former MASLOC CEO Sedina Tamakloe‑Attionu against her conviction, describing the allegations as “false and devious.”
In a statement issued on Friday, July 31, Mr Dame said attempts by communicators of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to blame the Akufo‑Addo administration for Ms Tamakloe‑Attionu’s eventual acquittal were baseless.
He insisted that no notice of appeal ever reached the Office of the Attorney-General during his tenure.
“No notice of an appeal filed by Sedina Attionu in 2024 came to the attention of the Office of the Attorney-General in my tenure,” he stated.
According to him, state attorneys informed the Court of Appeal—both orally and in writing—in April 2026 that they had never been served with any notice of appeal and only became aware of the matter after the court directed the parties to file written submissions.
Mr Dame argued that even if an appeal had indeed been filed in 2024, it was procedurally dormant, with no action taken by the appellant until after the NDC assumed office.
“The Republic had to do nothing in 2024 in terms of the conduct of that appeal,” he said.
He explained that his priority as Attorney-General was ensuring Ms Tamakloe‑Attionu—convicted by the High Court—was extradited to Ghana to serve her 10‑year sentence.
He said his office initiated extradition proceedings in the United States, culminating in an order by the U.S. District Court of Nevada on April 9, 2026, committing her to custody pending a decision by the U.S. Secretary of State.
Throughout the extradition process, he noted, no reference was ever made to any appeal allegedly filed in Ghana.
Mr Dame said lawyers for Ms Tamakloe‑Attionu only obtained leave from the Court of Appeal on February 10, 2026 to file written submissions—two days after he left office. The submissions were filed on February 12, and state attorneys were “surprised” when they were served on February 16, having received no prior notification of the appeal.
State attorneys later filed their own submissions on April 9, 2026, raising concerns about an incomplete record of appeal and missing exhibits from the trial.
His comments follow an application filed at the Supreme Court by the Attorney-General seeking a stay of execution of the Court of Appeal’s judgment that acquitted and discharged Ms Tamakloe‑Attionu. The A‑G argues that she could leave Ghana before the Supreme Court determines the State’s appeal.
Ms Tamakloe‑Attionu was convicted in absentia on April 16, 2024, and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for offences including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, and money laundering. The Court of Appeal later overturned the conviction, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.