The Attorney-General has withdrawn an application seeking to suspend the Court of Appeal’s decision acquitting and discharging former MASLOC Chief Executive Christine Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, opting instead to pursue the matter at the Supreme Court.
The Court of Appeal on Wednesday, August 12, struck out the application as withdrawn after the State informed the court that it had filed a notice of withdrawal on August 10.
The withdrawal brings to an end the Attorney-General’s attempt to stay the execution of the appellate court’s judgment, which cleared Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu of all charges.
However, the State has already filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, signalling that it intends to continue challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision.
The Attorney-General had argued that the acquittal should not take immediate effect because it could allow Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu to leave the jurisdiction, potentially complicating the State’s efforts to pursue a further appeal.
The withdrawal of the application, however, was challenged by the defence.
Counsel for Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu, Sidney Antonio, argued that the Attorney-General should have sought the court’s permission before filing the notice of withdrawal, particularly because the matter had been scheduled for a ruling.
“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 withdraw,” he said.
Mr Antonio also indicated that the defence had not been formally served with any application filed at the Supreme Court.
The latest development follows the Court of Appeal’s July 2026 judgment, which overturned the 10-year prison sentence imposed on Mrs 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 its case.
Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu had earlier been convicted on 78 counts, including stealing, causing financial loss to the state and money laundering, and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
With the stay application now withdrawn, the legal dispute has effectively moved to the Supreme Court, where the Attorney-General is expected to pursue a further appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision.
