AG charges EX-GIIF CEO, Prof Ameyaw-Ekumfi over $2M sky train scandal

The Attorney-General’s Department has brought formal criminal charges against former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Solomon Asamoah, and ex-board chairman, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Ekumfi, in connection with the failed Accra Sky Train project that allegedly cost the state $2 million.

These are grounded in provisions of the Criminal Offences Act and the Public Property Protection Decree.

According to court filings, the incident dates back to February 2019, when the two sanctioned a $2 million payment to Africa Investor Holdings Limited for early-stage work on the proposed urban rail system—work that never materialized. Prosecutors contend that the payment lacked the necessary board authorization and breached GIIF’s internal governance protocols.

The Accra Sky Train initiative, launched in 2018 as a flagship public-private partnership under the Ministry of Railways Development, was envisioned to ease transportation within the capital. However, investigators say the transaction not only bypassed due diligence but also occurred without tangible progress on the project.

Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine emphasized that the accused overstepped their mandates and financially exposed the state. “This was an unauthorized payment for a project that never got off the ground,” he said. “It represents a serious breach of public trust.”

The state has confirmed that some former GIIF board members have agreed to serve as prosecution witnesses. The trial forms part of a broader anti-corruption agenda, with officials also expected to prosecute related cases, including the National Service Scheme’s “ghost names” scandal.

The matter is set to proceed to full trial in the coming weeks.