The prosecution in the SkyTrain trial involving former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Solomon Asamoah, and former Board Chairman, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, has closed its case after calling three witnesses.
The two are standing trial over allegations of conspiring to cause financial loss of $2 million earmarked for the development of the proposed project, which was ultimately not executed.
The state’s case is anchored on claims that the SkyTrain project did not receive the necessary approval from the GIIF Board, which is responsible for overseeing the fund’s operations and financial decisions.
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A former board member of GIIF, Yaw Odame-Darkwa, testified that the board did not approve the transaction in question.
He further told the court that a document cited by Solomon Asamoah, which suggested board approval for a $2 million investment in the SkyTrain project, was only an update and not an authorisation.
According to him, the project was still under consideration at the investment committee stage at the time.
The second prosecution witness, former Board Secretary of GIIF, Kofi Boakye, also confirmed that the board did not approve the SkyTrain project or the associated $2 million payment.
He told the court that while several projects were approved during his tenure, the SkyTrain initiative was not among them.
A staff officer from the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), Francis Aboagye, who led investigations into the matter, also gave evidence supporting the testimonies of the first two witnesses.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, lawyers for the accused persons have indicated their intention to file a submission of no case, in line with Section 173 of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30).
The application, if successful, could result in the discharge of the accused without requiring them to open their defence.
However, if the court finds that a prima facie case has been established, the accused persons will be required to open their defence.
The case is being presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, who has granted the defence three weeks to file its application.