Supreme Court Set to Rule on $2 Million SkyTrain Case

Ghana’s Supreme Court is expected to decide whether a $2 million corruption case involving two former infrastructure fund officials should proceed.

Solomon Asamoah, the former executive director of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, and Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, its former board chairman, are asking the country’s highest court to overturn a High Court ruling. That ruling rejected their submissions of no case to answer and ordered them to open their defence.

The prosecution alleges that the two approved a $2 million payment to a South African company without the GIIF board’s approval, causing financial loss to the state. They face six charges, including conspiracy to wilfully cause financial loss and conspiracy to intentionally dissipate public funds. Both have pleaded not guilty and remain on bail.

The High Court rejected their submissions on July 2 and gave them 21 days to file their defences. After they failed to do so, the court granted another 21-day extension on July 30 and later extended the deadline to September 23.

Prosecutors called three witnesses. Former GIIF board member Yaw Odame-Darkwa and former board secretary Kofi Boakye testified that the board had not approved the transaction. National Intelligence Bureau investigator Francis Aboagye supported their accounts.

The defence disputes that evidence. Asamoah’s lawyer, Victoria Barth, said the payment represented an equity investment for a 10% stake in the project’s special purpose vehicle. She also pointed to GIIF minutes dated October 24, 2018, which she said recorded approval. Ameyaw-Akumfi’s lawyer, Yaw Acheampong Boafo, argued that cross-examination had weakened the state’s case.