NO MERCY FOR SEDINA TAMAKLOE! , Mahama Won’t Pardon Ex-MASLOC Boss – NDC

Hopes of a presidential pardon for convicted former MASLOC Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, appear to have been dashed as leading figures in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) insist President John Dramani Mahama has no plans to free her from jail.

According to influential voices within the ruling party, President Mahama has not considered granting clemency to the former MASLOC boss, or any public official convicted of corruption-related offences, maintaining that accountability remains a fundamental principle of his administration.

Sedina Tamakloe, who was extradited from the United States, touched down at Kotoka International Airport on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, and was immediately whisked into custody to begin serving a 10-year prison sentence handed down by a Ghanaian court.

Since her dramatic return to Ghana, political circles have been awash with rumours that President Mahama could use his constitutional powers to grant her a pardon because of her ties to the NDC.

However, leading members of the governing party have strongly rejected such claims.

Speaking on ‘The Big Issue’ programme last Saturday, NDC Communications Team member Hamza Suhuyini expressed doubt that the President would intervene in the matter.

While acknowledging that the Constitution grants the President the authority to exercise the prerogative of mercy, Mr. Suhuyini stated that President Mahama’s leadership style suggests he would allow the legal process to take its course.

“As for a presidential pardon, I don’t see it happening, and many sound-minded Ghanaians would not want it to happen. It is within the legal remit of the land, but knowing President Mahama, he will allow the legal process to take its full and due course,” he said.

The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, also firmly rejected suggestions that the President was considering any form of clemency for the former MASLOC boss.

“I can tell you, at least in the interim, President Mahama has never contemplated a pardon—never. I can tell you on authority,” he said when speaking on ‘JoyNews’ Newsfile’ programme over the weekend.

According to him, the President’s position is consistent with his broader governance philosophy, which emphasises accountability among public office holders, particularly in cases involving allegations of corruption.

He stressed that individuals entrusted with public office must be prepared to account for their stewardship through established legal mechanisms.

“President Mahama believes that if you serve in public office, you must account for it one day, and that is exactly what we have. If her lawyers think that something untoward has happened, they should use the judicial process,” he added.

Mr. Baidoo also addressed comparisons being drawn between the Sedina Attionu case and the controversial Montie 3 pardon granted during Mahama’s previous administration. He argued that the two cases are fundamentally different and should not be conflated.

According to him, the Montie 3 matter did not involve the misappropriation of state funds and therefore cannot be compared to corruption-related offences involving public resources.

Background of the Case

The case against Sedina Attionu dates back to her tenure as Chief Executive Officer of MASLOC between 2013 and 2016. Following investigations into her administration, she was accused of multiple financial offences, including causing financial loss to the state and stealing.

In April 2024, the High Court convicted and sentenced her in absentia after finding her guilty on several counts. The court concluded that actions undertaken during her leadership at MASLOC resulted in substantial financial losses to the state, estimated at nearly GH¢90 million.

Following the conviction, the Government of Ghana submitted a formal extradition request to the United States in July 2024 to secure her return and enforce the sentence. The process involved extensive legal proceedings and diplomatic engagements between both countries over several months.

Government officials later disclosed that United States authorities approved her extradition after reviewing the request. Ghana was formally notified of the decision in January 2026, clearing the way for her return.

The case has become one of the most prominent corruption-related prosecutions in Ghana in recent years. The High Court ruled that financial irregularities and mismanagement under her administration significantly affected public resources, resulting in the substantial losses cited by prosecutors.

With her extradition completed and prison term now underway, NDC officials insist that any speculation about a presidential pardon remains unfounded, stressing that the judicial process must be allowed to run its course.