Ex-GIIF CEO and Prof. Ameyaw-Ekumfi charged over $2m Sky Train fiasco

The Attorney General’s Office has charged former Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) CEO Solomon Asamoah. Ex-board chairman Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Ekumfi is also charged. They are linked to the controversial Accra Sky Train project. This project allegedly cost the state $2 million without authorization.

The charges were filed today at the High Court (Criminal Division). They include causing financial loss to the state and conspiracy to commit a crime. The charges also involve intentional dissipation of public funds.

Prosecutors claim that in February 2019, the accused authorized a $2 million payment. This payment was made from GIIF to Africa Investor Holdings Limited for preliminary work on the Sky Train project. However, this system was never built and lacked proper board approval.

The Sky Train project began in 2018 as a public-private partnership for an urban rail system in Accra. It involved a memorandum of understanding between several parties, including GIIF and Africa Investor Holdings. Investigations showed that the $2 million disbursement violated GIIF's governance protocols.

Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine stated that the accused acted beyond their authority. Their actions caused significant financial harm to the state. He noted, "The payment was unauthorized, and the project never materialized."

The case will proceed in the High Court soon. Some GIIF board members have agreed to testify as prosecution witnesses.

This prosecution is part of a broader government effort against financial misconduct. Earlier warnings had indicated pending charges related to both the Sky Train and NSS ghost names scandals.