Arrest and detention status in the United States
Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was arrested by U.S. Marshals on January 6, 2026 and is currently held at the Nevada Southern Detention Center in Pahrump, Nevada. Her detention stems from an extradition request submitted by the Government of Ghana in July 2024. She is awaiting U.S. court proceedings related to that request, including matters of legal process and potential appeals that must be resolved before any transfer to Ghana can occur.
Conviction and sentence in Ghana
In April 2024, the High Court in Accra convicted Tamakloe-Attionu on 78 counts, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, and breaches of the Public Procurement Act tied to MASLOC funds. She received a sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Absconding during trial
During her trial, she was granted permission to travel for medical reasons but did not return to Ghana. She remained abroad—primarily in the United States—leading Ghanaian authorities to pursue extradition after her conviction.
Extradition process and current legal posture
Ghana’s request: The Government of Ghana formally asked U.S. authorities to extradite her to serve her sentence following the April 2024 conviction. U.S. authorities acted on the request with her arrest in early January 2026.
Ongoing proceedings: Her detention in U.S. custody is part of continuing extradition proceedings. The timing of any return to Ghana depends on U.S. court decisions and any legal challenges raised by her defense, including possible appeals.
