The Court of Appeal has struck out an application filed by the Attorney-General seeking a stay of execution of its decision acquitting and discharging former MASLOC Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu.
On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, the state informed the court that it had filed a notice withdrawing the application on August 10.
The state withdrawal was announced as the court was scheduled to deliver its ruling on the application, which had been adjourned after the panel heard arguments from both sides.
Hilda Craig, led by Winifred Sarpong, Counsel for the Republic, confirmed the State’s decision to withdraw the application.
Counsel for Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, Sidney Antonio, acknowledged receipt of the notice but contended that the State should have obtained the court’s leave before withdrawing the application.
The Court of Appeal noted the concern but observed that the respondent did not oppose the withdrawal.
It subsequently struck out the application as withdrawn.
However, the State has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court following the withdrawal of the earlier application.
Speaking to the media after proceedings, counsel for Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu, Sidney Antonio, stated, “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. 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 the ruling and that should have gone on today”.
“We have not been served formally with any such motion, but as you have heard, we have also heard about it,” he said.
It will be recalled that the Appeal Court has adjourned indefinitely without delivering a ruling on the State’s application for a stay of execution following the court acquittal of former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu.
Sophia Rosetta Bernasko-Essah, who presided, Justice Dr Ernest Owusu-Dapaa and Justice Ayitey Armah-Tetteh, the three-member panel who heard the arguments, retired approximately two hours later and returned to the courtroom, revealing that they were unable to reach a decision on the application.
The Court of Appeal consequently adjourned the matter indefinitely without indicating when it would reconvene.
The development follows Dr Dominic Ayine, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, who filed an urgent application at the Court of Appeal seeking a stay of execution of the judgment that acquitted and discharged Sedina Tamakloe Attionu.
On Thursday, July 30, the Attorney-General’s application was filed after the Court of Appeal unanimously overturned Attionu’s conviction and 10-year prison sentence.
Dr Dominic Ayine is asking the Court of Appeal to suspend the effect of its judgment until the Supreme Court determines the state’s appeal.
The AG motion, filed by Principal State Attorney Hilda W. Craig on behalf of the Attorney-General, is supported by an affidavit sworn by Assistant State Attorney Andrew Owusu-Agyemang.
The Attorney-General in the affidavit states that the Court of Appeal’s judgment resulted in a substantial miscarriage of justice because of what he describes as material errors of law and fact on the face of the record.
The affidavit further discloses that the Republic has already filed a notice of appeal at the Supreme Court.
According to the Attorney-General, failing to grant a stay of execution could render the intended appeal ineffective if the acquittal remains in force.
They then ask the Court of Appeal to suspend the operation of its July 30 judgment pending the final determination of the appeal by the Supreme Court.
See the post below:
The Attorney-General has withdrawn its application seeking to halt the release of the former MASLOC CEO from prison custody.
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) August 12, 2026
The Court of Appeal has struck it out as withdrawn.#3NewsGH #TV3GH pic.twitter.com/DueLcIr9D5
