Lawyers representing former Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) Chief Executive Officer Solomon Asamoah and former Board Chairman Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi have argued before the High Court that the alleged $2 million loss linked to the Sky Train project was caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic rather than any criminal conduct on the part of their clients.
The argument forms part of a submission of no case filed after the Attorney General concluded its prosecution against the two accused persons.
Mr. Asamoah and Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi are standing trial on charges of causing financial loss to the state through the alleged disbursement of $2 million for the proposed Sky Train project without the approval of the GIIF Board.
The prosecution closed its case after presenting testimony from three witnesses: former GIIF Board member Yaw Odame-Darkwa, acting GIIF Board Secretary Kofi Boakye, and National Intelligence Bureau investigator Francis Aboagye, who led the probe into the transaction.
According to the prosecution’s witnesses, the GIIF Board did not approve the Sky Train project for which the funds were allegedly released.
Following the close of the prosecution’s case, lawyers for the accused informed the court of their intention to file a submission of no case, contending that the evidence presented fails to establish the offences alleged against their clients.
In their application, the defence argues that the loss of the $2 million investment resulted from the unprecedented disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected projects, businesses and economies across the world.
The lawyers are therefore urging the court to dismiss the charges and bring the proceedings to an end without requiring the accused persons to open their defence.
The matter is being heard by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, who has granted the defence three weeks to file its application. The court will subsequently determine whether the prosecution has established a prima facie case that warrants the accused persons being called upon to answer the charges.
