Sky Train trial: Defence lawyer challenges witness over Board discussions on project

Lawyers representing Solomon Asamoah, former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), have challenged portions of a key prosecution witness’s testimony, insisting that the Accra Sky Train Project was discussed multiple times by the GIIF Board—not just once as claimed.

During cross-examination on Wednesday, defence counsel confronted Yaw Odame-Darkwa, a former GIIF board member, with board minutes allegedly referencing the Sky Train Project on at least eight occasions between September 2018 and December 2020.

Mr. Odame-Darkwa had earlier told the court in his witness statement that the Sky Train Project came up at only one board meeting.
However, when defence counsel Victoria Barth presented several official records showing repeated mentions of the project, the witness acknowledged that those minutes had indeed been shown to him during National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) investigations.

He maintained, however, that the Sky Train was discussed alongside other GIIF projects, and therefore did not consider each mention as a separate or substantive deliberation.

Lead counsel Victoria Barth argued that the official records directly contradicted the witness’s claim, suggesting a pattern of board engagement on the project beyond a single meeting.

“The minutes speak for themselves,” Barth told the court, contending that it was misleading for the witness to insist on “one discussion” when the records reflected multiple entries across several board sessions.

The defence pressed Mr. Odame-Darkwa to clarify whether, in light of the evidence, he still maintained his earlier statement.

Tensions also surfaced over whether the witness could accurately testify about the contents of the board minutes without having re-examined the full documents before appearing in court.

The court therefore adjourned proceedings to Wednesday, November 19, 2025, to allow Mr. Odame-Darkwa sufficient time to review the relevant minutes before continuing his testimony.

The cross-examination forms part of an ongoing trial involving Solomon Asamoah and Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, the former GIIF Board Chairman.

Both are accused of authorising the disbursement of US$2 million for the Accra Sky Train Project without full board approval. Prosecutors allege that no tangible work was executed despite the release of funds.

The defence maintains that the transaction was duly approved and documented, describing the prosecution’s case as mischaracterised and selective in its presentation of the facts.

The trial continues.