Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), involved in the botched skytrain, and Solomon Asamoah, former CEO of the Fund, have filed an application at the High Court in Accra seeking a variation of their bail conditions.
Currently, Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi involved in the skytrain saga, is required to report to the police weekly, while Asamoah must report every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until the case is resolved. The presiding judge, Justice Comfort Tasiame, has directed their legal teams to submit formal applications, allowing the State Prosecutor to respond appropriately.
Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, told the court that the State has submitted additional disclosures and seeks to withdraw certain witness statements as part of the legal process.
In response, defence counsel Edem Nuhoho (representing Asamoah) and Duke Aaron Sasu (representing Prof. Ameyaw-Ekumfi) have both requested a one-month adjournment to thoroughly examine the newly disclosed evidence.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges including:
- Willfully causing financial loss to the State
- Intentional dissipation of public funds
- Conspiracy to commit crime
The charges fall under Section 23(1) and Section 179A(3)(a) of Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Bail conditions for Ameyaw-Akumfi and Asamoah
- Ameyaw-Akumfi was granted GH¢10 million bail with two sureties (one must justify with landed property in Greater Accra). He also had to surrender all travel documents, including his passport.
- Solomon Asamoah received GH¢15 million bail, with two sureties justified by registered property in Greater Accra. He was required to submit his Ghanaian and UK passports and report to police thrice weekly.
Background of the GIIF corruption case
The case stems from a $2 million payment made in February 2019 to the bank account of Africa Investor Holdings Limited in Mauritius.
The funds were allegedly meant for feasibility studies on the proposed Accra SkyTrain project, a major urban light rail initiative aimed at alleviating traffic congestion and air pollution in the capital city.
The Accra SkyTrain project, estimated at $2.6 billion, was set to span 194 km across five lines using Aeromovel technology.
The Government of Ghana signed an MoU in 2018 and a build–operate–transfer concession agreement with South Africa’s Ai SkyTrain Consortium in November 2019.
However, the project stalled, and the feasibility study was never completed.
The State alleges that the $2 million disbursement was made without board approval and proper documentation. Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi reportedly authorized the release of funds based on recommendations from Asamoah, yet the accused have failed to account for the missing public funds.
The case has been adjourned to June 24, 2025, for a Case Management Conference (CMC), where the High Court will outline the next procedural steps in this critical public accountability case.
