Solomon Asamoah
The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Solomon Asamoah, is said to be hiding in Senegal as investigations into a $2 million payment for the non-existent Skytrain project heats up.
Investigations into the scandal so far reveals that there was no board approval for the payment to Africa Investor Holdings Limited, the company in charge of the project.
While the Board Chairman for GIIF, Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi has been arrested, questioned and released by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), his co-accused Solomon Asamoah is said to be on the run due to his involvement in the payment.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi was detained on February 23, 2025 for his alleged role in the payment of $2 million in the Skytrain scandal.
The Accra Sky Train project, which was announced in 2017 by then President Nana Akufo-Addo, was meant to transform urban transportation in Ghana.
But the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, speaking at a press briefing yesterday, indicated that there was no board approval for the $2 million payment.
He indicated that Mr. Asamoah, who was initially staying in South Africa as at February 2, 2025, is now on the run and has since moved to Senegal, where Ghana does not have an extradition treaty.
“In respect of Skytrain, we can confirm that the $2,000,000 was paid at the request the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi and the CEO, Mr. Solomon Asamoah, who is currently hiding in Senegal,” he said.
He continued that, “We tracked him first and noticed he was in South Africa since February 2, 2025.”
Dr. Ayine also indicated that there was no board approval for the transaction, and the conditions precedent to disbursement had not been met.
“The other board members and our review of the minutes of the board of directors have confirmed this fact,” he said, adding that even some members of the board questioned the payment of the $2 million, but the query was ignored.
Dr. Ayine told the press that Mr. Asamoah is playing hide and seek with investigative bodies although he has indicated that he would return in three months.
“I’m sure from Senegal he will go somewhere else. Usually what they do is that, they go to a country where they know that you don’t have an extradition treaty, so I can’t request that he is extradited to stand trial. But we are monitoring him. I’m sure that one day we will get him, he will arrive in this country either voluntarily or involuntarily,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General has indicated that his office may have to try Mr. Asamoah in absentia if he fails to return to Ghana to face trial.
He said other suspects are available and any charge sheet may include him, as the law permits trial in absentia in criminal cases.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak