Mahama won’t shield Sedina Tamakloe from justice – Vanderpuye

The National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has dismissed suggestions that President John Dramani Mahama could use his office to secure a pardon for former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, following her extradition to Ghana.

According to Mr. Vanderpuye, President Mahama remains committed to the rule of law and would not interfere in judicial processes or shield any individual from facing the consequences of their actions, regardless of personal relationships or political affiliations.

Speaking on Channel One TV on Thursday, June 11, 2026, he stressed that accountability and respect for due process are central to the President’s leadership philosophy.

Mr. Vanderpuye said the successful extradition of Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu from the United States should serve as a clear indication that public officials can be held accountable for misconduct.

He argued that recent developments have disproved claims by critics who alleged that an NDC administration would prevent her return to Ghana or obstruct the execution of the court’s judgment.

“The extradition and imprisonment of Sedina Tamakloe should send a strong message that public officials are not above the law and can be held accountable for wrongdoing,” he indicated.

According to him, the case demonstrates the government's commitment to ensuring that justice is served irrespective of political considerations.

The former MASLOC Chief Executive was extradited from the United States to Ghana to serve a 10-year prison sentence imposed by the Accra High Court in 2024.

She was convicted in absentia on charges including causing financial loss to the state and stealing.

The court found that her actions during her tenure at MASLOC between 2013 and 2016 resulted in losses estimated at nearly GH¢90 million.

Tamakloe-Attionu travelled to the United States in 2021 for medical treatment but failed to return to Ghana to continue standing trial. Her absence prompted Ghanaian authorities to initiate extradition proceedings through the U.S. legal system, ultimately leading to her return to serve her sentence.

Addressing speculation that President Mahama could grant executive clemency to the former MASLOC boss, Vanderpuye maintained that any discussion of a presidential pardon would have to follow the legal procedures established under Ghanaian law.

He emphasized that the President would not intervene arbitrarily to protect associates or political allies.

“Unless you don’t know President Mahama for who he is. But if you really know him, you know that he is somebody; you may be his friend, you may be a family member, but when it comes to certain things, he will let you face the wrath yourself. He will not go to shield you,” he said.

The DRIP Coordinator added that the President’s commitment to fairness means individuals must be allowed to face the legal consequences of their actions without political interference.

Mr. Vanderpuye further argued that those who predicted that an NDC government would block Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu’s extradition have been proven wrong by the outcome of the case.

He noted that the former MASLOC CEO has now been returned to Ghana and will serve her sentence in accordance with the ruling of the court.

The case continues to attract public attention due to its significance in Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts and the broader debate on accountability among public officials.