Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi
The erstwhile Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, who has been charged for his alleged role in the non-existent Accra Skytrain project, is said to have been rushed to an emergency ward on the dawn of the day he was expected to appear in court.
A High Court in Accra had adjourned the case to yesterday to take his plea on three offences, after he missed the first court sitting on health grounds.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi has been charged alongside the former Chief Executive Officer of the Fund, Solomon Asamoah, for their alleged involvement in the dissipation of state funds.
The two have each been charged with three offences, including one count of conspiracy to commit crime, causing financial loss to the state, and intentional dissipation of public fund.
Mr. Asamoah pleaded not guilty to the charges when he made his first appearance on May 13, 2025, and was granted a bail of GH¢15 million with two sureties who must be justified with landed property located in the Greater Accra Region.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to yesterday to take the plea of Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi since he was said to have undergone a medical procedure at the University of Ghana Medical Centre.
However, he was absent at yesterday’s sitting. His lawyer, Duke Aaron Sasu told the court that they had been informed at dawn yesterday that the accused had been rushed to the emergency ward of the hospital.
Justice Comfort Tasiame, the presiding judge, who was unimpressed, observed that it appeared Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi always had a medical condition on the mornings of the days he is supposed to appear in court.
His lawyer subtly disagreed, informing the court that “we were informed this dawn that he was rushed to the ward. I’m trying to get the report for the court. We’ve been told that by Friday he should be available for his plea to be taken.”
Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, said that the court was right in observing that the accused appears to be taken ill each time he was expected in court.
“We do not want to impute anything, except to say that Friday is not far. But when Friday comes, we will make a prayer to my Lady on how the prosecution intends to move forward with the second accused person (Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi),” he added.
The trial judge indicated she doesn’t like giving short dates and, therefore, adjourned the case to May 26, 2025.
Trial
Court documents indicate that the two individuals approved the transfer of $2 million from the account of GIIF into the bank account of Africa Investor Holdings Limited, a company incorporated in South Africa, without board approval.
The documents further indicate that the two caused the transfer of the money into the accounts of the company in the name of acquiring shares in Africa Investor Holdings Limited on February 25, 2019, and nothing has since been heard, said or done by the GIIF or its governing board concerning the alleged share acquisition.
The brief facts indicate that the Accra Skytrain project was to be constructed on a Design, Build, Finance, and Operate basis.
“In the memorandum of understanding, GIIF was to be the anchor equity investor and local project development partner to the Africa Investor Holdings (Proprietary) Limited. It was further agreed in the memorandum of understanding that GIIF would conduct due diligence and develop a bankable feasibility study on the project,” it added.
A shareholder agreement was subsequently signed on January 9, 2019 between GIIF and Africa Investor Holdings Ltd. where the latter was to transfer 10% of its alleged 100% shares in a company styled as ‘Ai Skytrain Consortium Holdings,’ a limited liability company registered in Mauritius.
Upon their arrest, Solomon Asamoah is said to have indicated in his cautioned statement that he obtained approval of GIIF board in respect of the payment, while Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi told investigators he signed the funds transfer on the recommendation of Mr. Asamoah.
The fact added that neither of the accused persons have been able to account for the $2 million.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak