Sky Train trial: Court orders Asamoah, Ameyaw-Akumfi to open defence
Former GIIF Chief Executive Officer Solomon Asamoah and former Board Chairman Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi had asked the court to end the trial without requiring them to open their defence.
The two former Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund officials standing trial over the failed Sky Train project will now have to answer the charges against them after the High Court rejected their submission of no case.
Former GIIF Chief Executive Officer Solomon Asamoah and former Board Chairman Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi had asked the court to end the trial without requiring them to open their defence.
They argued that the prosecution had not led enough evidence to establish a case against them.
But the High Court dismissed the application and directed the two accused persons to open their defence.
Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, announced the development in a Facebook post on Thursday, July 2.
He said the court, after considering the prosecution’s evidence, found that the accused persons had a case to answer.
“The Court has since directed them to open their defence and give reasons why they should not be convicted for causing US$2 million loss to the nation,” he stated.
The case, titled Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, concerns a US$2 million payment made by GIIF in 2019 in relation to the proposed Accra Sky Train project.
The State alleges that the money was paid for an equity stake in the project development company without the necessary board approval.
Prosecutors also contend that the rail project for which the payment was made was never built.
The two former officials are facing charges connected to allegedly causing financial loss to the Republic and dissipating public funds.
The prosecution’s case is that the payment exposed the state to a US$2 million loss.
The dismissal of the no case submission means the trial will now move into the defence stage.
Mr Asamoah and Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi will be required to respond to the evidence led by the prosecution.
Dr Srem-Sai commended the prosecution team for its work in the case.
He expressed appreciation to the State Attorneys and investigators from the National Intelligence Bureau for their efforts over the past months.
“Gratitude to our team of State Attorneys and BNI investigators who have worked tirelessly in the past months to make this possible,” he wrote.
The ruling marks a major stage in the Sky Train trial, which has attracted public attention because of the amount involved and the controversy surrounding the abandoned project.
