Acquitted former MASLOC boss remains in prison, government says

Former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) chief executive Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu remains in prison custody despite being acquitted by the Court of Appeal, Ghana's Minister of State for Government Communications has said.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu dismissed reports that Ms Tamakloe-Attionu had been released after returning to Ghana, describing them as "blatantly false".

"The day that Sedina landed in Ghana till the Court of Appeal made its pronouncements, she has always been in prison custody," he said in an interview with Channel One TV, monitored by The Executive Spotlight.

"I can tell you Sedina has not been released; she's still in custody."

His comments come as the Attorney-General seeks to suspend the Court of Appeal's decision, which quashed Ms Tamakloe-Attionu's conviction and 10-year prison sentence for causing financial loss to the state.

The Court of Appeal ruled that prosecutors had failed to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt and acquitted and discharged the former MASLOC chief.

The Attorney-General has since filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking a stay of execution of the judgment while the state pursues an appeal.

Separately, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has authorised the Court of Appeal to sit during the legal vacation to hear the Attorney-General's application for a stay of execution. The hearing is scheduled for August 16.

The case has become politically contentious, with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) announcing plans to stage a protest on August 6, arguing that the Court of Appeal's decision was flawed.

The NPP has also accused the government of applying justice selectively, an allegation the government rejects.

The outcome of the Attorney-General's application is expected to determine whether Ms Tamakloe-Attionu remains in custody while the state's legal challenge to her acquittal proceeds.