Supreme Court clears way for continuation of Skytrain trial
The Supreme Court yesterday gave the green light for the continuation of the trial of the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Mr Solomon Asamoah, and former Board Member Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Ekumfi, who are standing trial for allegedly paying $2 million for a Skytrain project without board approval.
Mr Asamoah filed a motion for and interlocutory injunction against his trial.
He wanted the court to quash the trial high court’s ruling that dismissed his submission of no case to answer.
But, Justice Senyo Dzamefe, sitting as a single judge, dismissed the injunction application on grounds that the application failed to disclose a serious case to be tried, as the matters complained of were matters for appeal.
Justice Dzamefe held that the trial high court ruling on the applicant’s submission of no case to answer fell within its judriction.
The two are currently on bail for allegedly causing financial loss to the state for approving payment to a South African company $2 million without board approval.
On July 2, the high court dismissed submissions of no case filed by the accused, and directed them to, within 21 days, file their respective defences.
At the expiration of the 21 days, none of the accused filed their defence.
On July 30, the court gave the accused another 21 days within which to file their defences.
The court then adjourned to Monday, August 24, to conduct case management conference for the defence but the accused, again, failed to file their defence prompting the court to give the accused a further extension to Wednesday, September 23 to file their defence.
The prosecution’s case is premised on the claim that the SkyTrain project did not receive approval from the GIIF board, the body responsible for the fund’s actions, omissions, and liabilities.
Asamoah and Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi are facing six counts in all. Both have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime, namely wilfully causing financial loss to the Republic.
Asamoah alone faces a separate charge of wilfully causing financial loss to the Republic, while Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi alone faces the same charge.
The two are further charged with conspiracy to commit crime, namely intentional dissipation of public funds, with each again facing an individual charge of intentional dissipation of public funds, accounting for counts five and six on the charge sheet filed by the Attorney-General.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Asaman Tamfoe
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