AG opposes bid by Ex-GIIF CEO to halt $2m sky train case
By DL News
Published
2 min read
Mr. Asamoah, who is standing trial alongside former GIIF Board Chairman, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, wants the High Court to stay proceedings while he pursues an appeal against the court’s earlier refusal to compel the AG to provide ad...
The Office of the Attorney General (AG) has opposed an application filed by former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Solomon Asamoah, seeking to temporarily halt his ongoing criminal trial in connection with the controversial $2 million Sky Train project.
Mr. Asamoah, who is standing trial alongside former GIIF Board Chairman, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, wants the High Court to stay proceedings while he pursues an appeal against the court’s earlier refusal to compel the AG to provide additional documents for his defense.
After the High Court dismissed his request for further disclosures, Mr. Asamoah instructed his legal team to appeal the ruling. Subsequently, his lawyers filed a motion last week seeking a stay of proceedings until the appeal is determined.
The two former GIIF officials are facing six charges, including conspiracy, willfully causing financial loss to the state, and intentional dissipation of public funds, relating to the alleged wrongful payment of $2 million toward the Sky Train initiative. They have both pleaded not guilty.
When the matter was called in court on Monday, October 20, Chief State Attorney Mrs. Sefakor Batse informed the court that the prosecution had filed an affidavit in opposition to the stay application on October 14.
Lead defense counsel, Mrs. Victoria Barth, representing Mr. Asamoah, stated that she had only been served with the affidavit on the morning of the hearing and requested time to review it.
Presiding judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvi-Tay, granted the request and adjourned hearing to Wednesday, October 22.
Mr. Asamoah was first granted bail on May 13 in the sum of GH¢15 million with two sureties, who are required to justify the bond with registered property in the Greater Accra Region.
Additional bail conditions include:
Deposit of local and foreign passports
Submission of Ghana Cards and digital addresses by sureties
Mandatory reporting to the police every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi is currently on GH¢10 million bail.
The court is scheduled to determine on October 22 whether to grant a stay of proceedings, following arguments from both sides. If denied, the substantive trial on the Sky Train case is expected to continue.
