Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has defended 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, saying the judgment highlights weaknesses in the prosecution’s case rather than errors by the court.
Speaking during a panel discussion on a political talk show, Mr. Awuni said he took time to read the Court of Appeal’s judgment and concluded that the ruling was grounded in law and evidence. According to him, if he had to choose between the court’s decision and public sentiment, he would trust the court’s reasoning.
“I generally, if I have to honestly choose between the court and any other sentiment, I think I would tilt in favour of the court, having read the judgment,” he stated.
Mr. Awuni argued that the ruling should encourage anti-corruption advocates and the public to pay closer attention to the quality of state investigations and prosecutions instead of relying solely on allegations made at press conferences. He said the outcome of corruption cases often depends on the prosecution’s ability to present credible and complete evidence before the court.
“That should tell us that those of us in the accountability space should begin to pay more attention to the state prosecution or state prosecutors,” he said.
To support his position, the investigative journalist referred to his experience during the prosecution of a case arising from his investigative documentary Contracts for Sale. He explained that although the documentary was eventually admitted into evidence, it was not initially tendered by prosecutors until he drew attention to the omission.
According to Mr. Awuni, members of the public are often familiar with the facts surrounding a case but have little knowledge of what actually happens during court proceedings.
“The average person out there who knows the facts doesn’t know what happens in the courtroom,” he noted.
He urged the public to demand more thorough investigations and stronger prosecution of corruption cases, stressing that prosecutors must prove every allegation beyond reasonable doubt rather than expecting the courts to fill gaps in their case.
Mr. Awuni further observed that some of the shortcomings identified by the Court of Appeal in the Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu case could have been avoided through more diligent investigations. He cited the failure to seek confirmation from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) on whether MASLOC had obtained the necessary procurement approval as an example of an evidential gap that proved significant.
He maintained that while some of the issues highlighted by the Court of Appeal appeared minor, they became decisive because they affected the prosecution’s ability to establish the offences beyond reasonable doubt, ultimately leading to the acquittal and discharge of the former MASLOC Chief Executive Officer.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe
