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A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Team, Ellen Ama Daaku, has questioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on its reluctance to pursue the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedinam Christine Tamakloe Attionu, to face justice.
According to her, the OSP should have channeled the same energy he is using against the former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, on Sedinam Tamakloe, ensuring she returns to the country to serve her jail term.
In 2017, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) conducted investigations into certain fraudulent disbursements of MASLOC funds involving Sedinam Tamakloe. The investigations, according to the state, revealed that in June 2014, MASLOC invested a sum of GHC150,000 in Obaatanpa Micro-Finance Company Limited, a licensed Tier II microfinance company located in Ejura in the Ashanti Region.
Thereafter, Sedinam Tamakloe offered Obaatanpa a further investment sum of GHC150,000. As a result, a MASLOC Agriculture Development Bank (ADB) cheque dated 24th July 2014, in the sum of GHC500,000, was drawn in favour of Obaatanpa. Soon after Obaatanpa received the MASLOC cheque, Tamakloe informed the Board Chairman of Obaatanpa that the investment amount of GHC500,000 would attract 24% interest.
Obaatanpa decided to return the amount to MASLOC since the interest rate being demanded by the accused person was too high and unprofitable for its business, and issued a cheque in refund of the loan amount. The facts further state that upon presentation of the cheque, Tamakloe declined to accept the cheque and made a demand for a cash refund.
Madam Ellen further asserted that the OSP should not focus only on the former Minister of Finance’s case but also on Sedinam Tamakloe, who was found guilty of corruption in the country.
According to her, the OSP should invite the convict into the country rather than writing letters to people.
“I did not hear Sedinam Tamakloe’s name. OSP, when is he inviting her too? She’s a fugitive. OSP is going around calling people fugitives, so he must look for her.
“She must serve her term; extradition, the OSP must do that… It’s a corruption-related case, so why is he not interested in pursuing Tamakloe’s case just like Ken Ofori-Atta’s case?”
