Daniel Axim, former COO of MASLOC, has also been jailed for five years with hard labour.
Daniel Axim and others were found guilty on 78 counts, including causing financial loss to the state, theft, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, and causing loss to public property.
The trial sounds like it was quite a lengthy process, starting back in 2019. It’s interesting that six witnesses testified for the state. It seems like Tamakloe was tried in absentia, meaning they were not physically present during the trial, possibly due to medical reasons. On the other hand, Axim testified in person but chose not to call any witnesses.
They were found guilty of misappropriating funds meant for MASLOC activities between 2013 and 2016. One instance involved withdrawing GH¢500,000 as a loan for Obaatampa Savings and Loans. When the institution refused a 24% interest rate, they demanded a refund. Although evidence of the refund existed, it wasn’t reflected in MASLOC’s accounts.
They were also convicted of misappropriating more than 1.7 million Ghana cedis that were supposed to be used for a sensitization exercise. However, only GH¢1,300 was actually used for the intended purpose. Similarly, out of 1.4 million cedis allocated for Kantamanso fire victims, only GH¢579,800 was disbursed, while the rest was misappropriated. It’s disheartening when funds meant for important causes are not utilized properly.
In addition to the misappropriation of funds, the case also involved overpayments for vehicle and Samsung phone purchases. Surprisingly, the amounts paid exceeded the market prices at the time, even though the purchases were made in bulk. It’s concerning when such transactions deviate from normal pricing practices.
