By Morkporkpor Anku
Accra, May 20, GNA – The state has closed its case in the trial involving Mr Solomon Asamoah, a former Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), and Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Ekumfi, a former Board Chairman, in the “Sky Train” case.
The case before the High Court concerns the alleged payment of US$2 million to a foreign company without the requisite board approval and other authorisations.
According to the prosecution, the money paid out under the transaction could not be traced.
The accused persons are standing trial over the disbursement linked to the proposed Accra Sky Train project.
The prosecution team, led by Dr Justice Srem-Sai, the Deputy Attorney-General, concluded the presentation of its evidence in the matter.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, lawyers for the accused persons applied to the court for leave to file a submission of no case.
A submission of no case is a legal process through which accused persons argue that the prosecution has failed to establish sufficient evidence requiring them to open their defence.
If the court upholds the submission, the accused persons could be acquitted and discharged without being called upon to present their defence.
However, if the court dismisses the application, the accused persons would be required to open their defence and respond to the allegations levelled against them.
The Court presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay granted the request and directed the accused persons to file their submission of no case by June 8, 2026.
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.
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
Reporter: Morkporkpor Anku
[email protected]
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong