The Court of Appeal has rejected the Attorney-General's bid to halt the freedom of former MASLOC Chief Executive Officer, Christine Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu. The decision was made after the Attorney-General withdrew an application seeking to stay the execution of the court's decision to acquit and discharge Tamakloe-Attionu.
Appeal Court Strikes Out Attorney-General's Application
The Court of Appeal struck out the application as withdrawn on Wednesday, August 12, after the State informed the court that it had filed a notice of withdrawal on August 10. This effectively brought the application before the Court of Appeal to an end.
The Attorney-General had earlier asked the court to suspend the effect of its acquittal pending the determination of a further appeal. The State had argued that allowing the acquittal to take immediate effect could create an opportunity for Tamakloe-Attionu to leave the jurisdiction, potentially making it difficult for the prosecution to pursue its appeal.
Defence Lawyers Raise Objections to Withdrawal
Lawyers for Tamakloe-Attionu raised objections to the manner in which the application was withdrawn. They argued that the Attorney-General should have sought the court's permission before filing the notice of withdrawal, particularly because the court had already set Wednesday for its ruling on the application.
Speaking to the media after the proceedings, counsel for Tamakloe-Attionu, Sidney Antonio, said the legal process required the Attorney-General to seek leave of the court before withdrawing the application. "Today's date was given by the court for the court to deliver its ruling and we were just served yesterday with a notice of withdrawal," he said. "We believe the proper thing should have been for the Attorney-General to have sought leave of the court before going ahead and withdrawing because today's business was for delivering of ruling and that should have gone on today."
Further Appeal at the Supreme Court?
Mr Antonio was also asked about reports that the Attorney-General, after withdrawing the stay application before the Court of Appeal, had filed a similar application at the Supreme Court. He said the defence had not been formally served with any such motion. "We have not been served formally with any such motion but as you have heard we have also heard about it," he said.
The withdrawal follows the Court of Appeal's decision in July 2026 to overturn the 10-year prison sentence imposed on Tamakloe-Attionu by the Accra High Court in April 2024. The appellate court acquitted and discharged her after concluding that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against her, effectively overturning her conviction and sentence.
What Happens Next?
The Attorney-General's withdrawal of the application means that Tamakloe-Attionu remains free pending the determination of any further appeal. The Supreme Court will now have to decide whether to uphold or set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the prosecution's ability to pursue its appeal and for the rights of accused persons in Ghana's justice system.
Source: Joy Online
