By Morkporkpor Anku
Accra, Nov. 11, GNA- Mr Yaw Odame-Darkwa, a former Board Member, Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), says he became aware of the payment of $2 million only through the Auditor-General’s report.
He told an Accra High Court that the Board did not approve any funding for the Sky Train project during his tenure.
Mr Odame-Darkwa, who is the first prosecution witness in his evidence-in-chief was led by Dr Justice Srem-Sai, Deputy Attorney-General said the Sky Train project was not brought for consideration at any Board Meeting.
He gave his evidence-in-chief in the trial involving Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, the former Board Chairman of GIIF, and Mr Solomon Asamoah, the former Chief Executive Officer, GIIF.
They have been charged with willfully causing financial loss to the State, intentional dissipation of public funds, and conspiracy to commit crime.
The Former Board Chairman was granted a bail sum of GH¢10 million with two sureties, one of the sureties to be justified with landed property based in Greater Accra.
Mr Asamoah was also granted a GH₵15 million bail with two sureties, all to be justified with a registered land or property located in the Greater Accra Region.
He said the Investment Committee did not recommend the Sky Project to the Board for approval.
Mr. Odame-Darkwa said in accordance with proper procedure, a due diligence report should have been presented to the Board before any approval for disbursement.
“I have recently been made aware of certain minutes from GIIF Board meetings referencing the Sky Train project,” he added.
The witness said the minutes referred to as evidence of the meeting do not accurately reflect the Board’s deliberations or decisions concerning the Sky Train project at any time.
He said he had always acted in the best interest of Ghana and would not have granted approval for any disbursement without proper due diligence.
Mr Odame-Darkwa said the minutes of previous GIIF project meetings in which he participated would demonstrate that he consistently acted in good faith, in accordance with due process, and in the national interest.
He said during his tenure, the Board approved funding for several infrastructure projects, and wished to state that the Sky Train concept was only introduced at one of their Board meetings.
He said the Board did not receive any substantive proposal on the Sky Train project and hence “we did not deliberate or take any decision on the project.”
The witness said additionally, the Investment Committee did not recommend the Sky Project to the Board for approval.
The Court presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay adjourned to November 12, 2025, for the Defence to continue cross-examination of the witness.
The Accra SkyTrain project was a proposed elevated light rail system aimed at reducing traffic congestion and air pollution in Accra, Ghana’s capital.
In 2018 the Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the AiSky Train Consortium of South Africa.
Following the completion of a feasibility study, in November 2019 the parties signed a build-operate-transfer concession agreement.
The company was to develop the system at an estimated cost of $2.6 billion with a capacity of 10,000 passengers/hour/direction.
GNA
11 Nov. 2025
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong