Solomon Asamoah
The trial of former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Solomon Asamoah and former Board Chairman of the Fund, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, has been adjourned to October 19 to abide the decision of the Supreme Court on an application seeking to prohibit the court from further hearing the case.
Lawyers for Mr. Asamoah have also filed an application for certiorari challenging among others, the court’s order on him to mount a defence after the court held at the close of the prosecution’s case that prima facie had been established, thereby requiring a defence.
The two are standing trial for allegedly causing $2 million financial loss to the state by investing it in the Sky Train project.
They have each been charged with three offences, including one count of conspiracy to commit crime, causing financial loss to the state and intentional dissipation of public fund.
Court documents claim that the two individuals approved the transfer of $2 million from the account of GIIF into the bank account of Africa Investor Holdings Limited, a company incorporated in South Africa, without board approval.
The documents further claim that the two caused the transfer of the money into the accounts of the company in the name of acquiring shares in Africa Investor Holdings Limited on February 25, 2019, and nothing has since been heard, said or done by the GIIF or its governing board concerning the alleged share acquisition.
The court had scheduled yesterday, today and tomorrow for case management for the defence after which the accused or their witnesses will mount the box to open their defence.
However, Victoria Barth, counsel for Mr. Asamoah, told the court about the pendency of the application at the Supreme Court seeking a certiorari against the decision of the court as well as a relief seeking to prohibit the court from further hearing the case.
She said in order to avoid the perception that Mr. Asamoah does not have a defence or is merely seeking to delay the trial, they have filed his witness statement on September 23, 2026, and followed it by 14 subpoenas filed on October 2, 2026, in respect of persons that they intend to cross-examine as part of his defence following the outcome for the application before the Supreme Court.
“This morning, we are praying the court to take into consideration the fact that the return date for the prohibition application is Tuesday, October 13, and therefore to kindly indulge us a short adjournment for the Supreme Court to hear us as any further steps taken beyond the show of good faith will compromise A1 (Asamoah) and render his application moot,” Mrs. Barth prayed.
She added that two of their potential witnesses are out of the jurisdiction and or presently unavailable to the defence team.
She said the defence will file their witness statements subject to the court’s leave.
The court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, adjourned the case to October 19, 2026.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak