Former GIIF CEO, Prof Akumfi charged over $2 million botched Sky Train deal

The Attorney-General’s Office has formally charged former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Solomon Asamoah, and former Board Chairman, Prof Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, for their alleged involvement in the controversial Accra Sky Train project that cost the state $2 million but yielded no results.
The charges, filed today at the High Court (Criminal Division), include willfully causing financial loss to the state, conspiracy to commit a crime, and intentional dissipation of public funds — all in violation of Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act and the Public Property Protection Decree.
According to the prosecution, the accused authorised a $2 million payment in February 2019 from GIIF to Africa Investor Holdings Limited for preliminary work on the Sky Train initiative, a proposed urban rail system for Accra.
However, the funds were allegedly disbursed without the necessary board approval, and the project was never executed.
The Sky Train project, launched in 2018 as a Public-Private Partnership involving the Ministry of Railways Development, GIIF, and Africa Investor Holdings, was touted as a transformative solution to Accra’s transport challenges.
But investigations later uncovered significant governance lapses and a lack of due diligence in the handling of public funds.
Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine said the accused officials acted outside their legal authority, ultimately inflicting substantial financial loss on the state.
“The payment was unauthorised, and the project never materialised.
This is a clear case of financial misconduct,” the charge sheet noted.
The High Court will now hear the case, with the Attorney-General’s Office confirming that some members of the GIIF board have agreed to testify as witnesses for the prosecution.
Source: Classfmonline.com/Cecil Mensah
Trending News
Bryan Acheampong forms committee for viability of his NPP flagbearership bid
06:42Parliament resumes today after a two-month recess
09:41Gender Ministry opens childcare centre to support working mothers
14:58V/R: Police 26 suspects over drug-related offences
19:40Unemployed Allied Health Professionals threaten 'demo' over delayed gov't postings
11:30Minority returns to Parliament despite earlier boycott threat
14:03Ghana must always remain a nation governed by law, not by arbitrary power, says Bawumia amid Wontumi’s arrest and detention
15:23Kasoa CBD decongestion exercise underway as traders protest demolition of roadside stalls
08:01Health Minister launches #FP2030 to promote reproductive rights and access to contraception
12:50Bawumia expresses concern over continuous detention of Wontumi
15:19