The Government of Ghana, through the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Justice, has filed criminal charges at the High Court in Accra against two prominent former public officials.
They are Solomon Asamoah, former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), and Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, former Board Chair of the same institution, for allegedly causing a $2 million financial loss to the Republic in connection with the failed Accra Sky Train project.
According to a charge sheet filed on May 13, 2025, at the High Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) in Accra, the two have been jointly and separately charged with six counts of criminal offences, including conspiracy to wilfully cause financial loss to the state, wilfully causing financial loss to the Republic, conspiracy to intentionally dissipate public funds, and intentional dissipation of public funds.
The charges stem from a 2019 transaction in which an amount of $2 million, belonging to the GIIF and by extension the Republic, was disbursed to Africa Investor Holdings Limited for the purported construction of an urban sky train system in Accra—a project that never materialised.
The first count accuses both Mr. Asamoah and Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi of conspiracy to commit a crime, specifically wilfully causing financial loss to the Republic.
The prosecution alleges that in February 2019, the duo agreed to act together with a common purpose to cause a financial loss of $2 million by authorising payment to Africa Investor Holdings without proper authorisation or sufficient due diligence.
Other Counts
The second and third counts, which are similar in nature but directed at each individual separately, accuse Mr. Asamoah and Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi of wilfully causing the $2 million financial loss through their respective roles in effecting the payment to the private company.
The charge states unequivocally that the urban sky train system, for which the payment was made, “was never built.“
Counts four to six deal with the alleged intentional dissipation of public funds. Again, both individuals are jointly charged with conspiracy to commit this crime and are separately charged with personally engaging in the dissipation of public funds.
The particulars echo the earlier charges, asserting that the two officials caused $2 million of state funds to be transferred to Africa Investor Holdings for a project that had no tangible outcome.
The charges are being brought under a combination of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and the Public Property Protection Decree, 1977 (SMCD 140), which collectively provide for the prosecution of individuals suspected of causing financial harm to the state or mismanaging public funds.
The indictment, signed by Hon. Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, Attorney-General of Ghana, signals a significant legal and political development in the government’s ongoing efforts to recover both misapplied and stolen funds of the state.
The Failed Accra Sky Train Project
The Accra Sky Train project, which was touted by officials in the past as an innovative public transport solution for the capital city, has become an emblem of failed promises and questionable expenditure in the public sector.
The latest charges raise broader questions about institutional oversight, governance, and accountability within Ghana’s infrastructure financing ecosystem.
The Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund was established to mobilise, manage, and invest capital for infrastructure development.
However, the apparent ease with which the $2 million was disbursed to a private entity—reportedly without adequate risk assessment or guarantees—has stunned many in both public and private sectors.
The case’s verdict might have a significant impact on the accused as well as other officials involved in comparable financial transactions that might not have been profitable.
Solomon Asamoah and Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi both risk severe legal repercussions, such as jail time and restitution orders, if found guilty.
The Registrar of the High Court will formally serve the accused with the charge documents, and preliminary hearings are anticipated to start in the upcoming weeks.
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