Former Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, demands explanation from Attorney-General

Former Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame has questioned the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit and discharge former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, insisting that the prosecution had presented credible evidence that led to her conviction at the High Court.

His comments follow the unanimous decision by the Court of Appeal to overturn Attionu’s conviction and 10-year custodial sentence, acquitting and discharging her of all charges.

A three-member panel comprising Justices Emmanuel Ankamah, Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe and Samuel Obeng-Diawuo held that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

In its ruling, the appellate court also criticised the trial court’s approach, saying the judge had lost sight of the constitutional principle that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Reacting to the decision, Mr Godfred Dame said he was surprised by the acquittal and called on Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine to explain why the state had effectively pursued an outcome that resulted in Attionu’s acquittal.

“Sedina was convicted on very credible evidence and he conducted the appeal. So the Attorney-General must explain why he appealed for her to be acquitted. I do not know why she was acquitted,” he said.

The former Attorney-General rejected the Court of Appeal’s finding that the prosecution had failed to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“It cannot be the case that we couldn’t prove our case beyond reasonable doubt. You saw the judgment of the High Court and Sedina absconded after she was confronted with the evidence. So it is not for nothing,” he said.

Mr Dame said the Attorney-General owed the public an explanation for the outcome, adding that he was yet to see the grounds upon which the appeal succeeded.

“So the Attorney-General must explain. We do not know the grounds of the appeal,” he said.

Meanwhile, the current Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, has filed a stay of Execution of the Court of Appeal decision.