The High Court, Accra, is set to begin the hearing of the 2 million dollar sky train scandal, later this month.
During pre-trial proceedings on Wednesday, the trial judge, Justice Comfort Tasima, announced July 23, as the date to commence the trial.
The court’s decisions followed the withdrawal of an application by lawyers for the second accused person, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Ekumfi, who had previously filed for the charges against him to be struck out by the court.
Prof Ameyaw-Ekumfi and the former Chief Executive Officer, GIIF, Solomon Asamoah have both been charged, for allegedly causing financial loss to the state in the two million dollar “Sky Train” project and are currently standing trial for it.
On Wednesday July 9, lawyers for the Former chairperson of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Ekumfi , were expected to move an application, before the trial court, seeking to dismiss the case against Prof. Ekumfi, for what they argued was a premature decision by the state to cite the former GIIF chair in the matter.
However, the defense lawyers, withdrew the application, during proceedings, and offering no explanation for same. The court presided by Justice Comfort, Tasima, struck out the application as was withdrawn, paving the way for the fixing of July 23, as the start date of the trial itself.
Meanwhile, the prosecution, says it will be calling eight individuals as prosecution witnesses to testify in the trial. The witnesses are, Yaw Odame Darkwa, Kofi Boakye, Andrews Agyenim Boateng, Maame Efua Kyerewa Ababio, Yvonne Adoley Sowah, Tweneboah Kodua, Cecilia Gambriah, and a Staff Officer Francis Aboagye.
At the previous hearing, prosecution withdrawal the witness statements of four other witnesses, that were filed initially to testify in the case. This includes, Seth Nana Kwame Osei, Benjamin Nartey Abrokwa, Reginald Okai and Chief Inspector Kesse.
Prosecution, also replaced the witness statement of staff officer Francis Aboagye, together with exhibits filed on June 3.
The former Chief Executive Officer of GIIF Solomon Asamoah and Prof Ameyaw-Ekumfi, were on Thursday May 13, charged with six counts of conspiracy to commit crime, willfully causing financial loss to the Republic, contrary to provisions of the and Criminal Offenses Act 1960 (Act 29) and Intentional dissipation of public funds, contrary to provisions of the Public Property Protection Decree,1977 (SMCD 140).
Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and are currently on bail, with various conditions. Prof Ameyaw Ekumfi and Mr Asamoah allegedly authorised payment of two million dollars to Africa Investor Holdings Limited in February 2019 for the development of an urban Sky Train system in Accra to be called Accra Sky Train but the project was not executed.
Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai narrated that due diligence to procedures or processes were not followed or engaged by GIIF prior to parting with the two million dollars.
The case has been adjourned to July 23, for the commencement of the case.