US extradites former Ghana agency chief to serve 10 year jail term for $6m fraud

Sedina Christine Tamakloe Attionu, a former head of a Ghanaian government agency has been extradited from the United States to Ghana to begin serving a 10 year prison sentence after being convicted of stealing millions of dollars in public funds meant to support small businesses and vulnerable communities.

The United States Department of Justice announced that Attionu, also known as Sedina Sharon Christine Acolatse, was handed over to Ghanaian authorities on June 8 following the completion of extradition proceedings in the United States.

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Attionu, 60, was convicted in Ghana on more than 70 criminal counts, including stealing, money laundering, conspiracy, causing financial loss to the state and misappropriation of public property.

According to the US Department of Justice, Attionu abused her position as Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s Microfinance and Small Loans Centre, known as MASLOC, to divert and misuse about $6 million in public funds.

MASLOC was established by the Ghanaian government to provide low interest loans and financial support to small and medium sized businesses.

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Prosecutors said that while leading the agency between November 2013 and January 2017, Attionu used several schemes to enrich herself. These included allegedly stealing money intended for MASLOC programmes, diverting funds meant for outreach, training and disaster relief activities, purchasing vehicles and mobile phones at inflated prices using public funds, and approving unauthorised payments to herself and an associate.

According to the Justice Department, Attionu attended part of her trial in Ghana before obtaining permission from the court to travel to the United States for medical treatment. However, she failed to return to continue the proceedings.

“The court issued a warrant for her arrest, concluded her absence was unjustified, and proceeded with her trial,” the department said in a statement.

On April 16, 2024, a Ghanaian court found Attionu guilty on all charges and sentenced her to 10 years in prison.

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Following the conviction, Ghana formally requested her extradition from the United States. American authorities secured an arrest warrant in December 2025, and Attionu was arrested in Nevada on January 6.
A US magistrate judge in Nevada certified her extradition on April 9, after which the US Secretary of State approved her surrender to Ghanaian authorities.

“The U.S. Marshals Service surrendered Attionu to Ghanaian authorities for transportation to Ghana. Attionu’s extradition is now complete,” the Justice Department said.

The extradition was coordinated by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs in partnership with Ghana’s Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the Ghana Police Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Marshals Service.

The case marks one of the most significant international anti corruption cooperation efforts between Ghana and the United States in recent years and underscores growing efforts by governments to pursue public officials accused of financial crimes across borders.