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Solomon Asamoah loses Supreme Court bid to halt $2m SkyTrain trial
•2 min read•4 sources
The Supreme Court has dismissed an application by Solomon Asamoah, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), to halt his trial in the $2 million Accra SkyTrain financial loss case. A five-member panel of the apex court rejected Asamoah’s attempt to quash a High Court ruling that ordered him to open his defence, effectively clearing the way for the criminal proceedings to continue. The ruling ensures that the trial will proceed as scheduled before the lower court.
Asamoah’s legal team had filed for judicial review and a writ of certiorari, arguing that the trial judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, had exceeded her jurisdiction. The application claimed the judge’s findings during the ruling on a submission of no case were inappropriate and had prejudiced his defence. Additionally, the former GIIF boss sought to stop the judge from further presiding over the matter, citing concerns over altered bail conditions and asserting that the court's actions were procedurally flawed.
The case centers on the alleged misappropriation of $2 million in state funds for the Accra SkyTrain project, a transportation venture that was never constructed. Asamoah is standing trial alongside the former GIIF Board Chairman, Professor Ameyaw Akumfi. Both men are accused of causing financial loss to the state by authorizing the release of funds for the project without obtaining the necessary board approvals. The accused persons have consistently maintained their innocence, denying the charges brought against them by the state.
In its final decision, the Supreme Court found no sufficient grounds to intervene in the High Court’s handling of the case. The Deputy Attorney-General had opposed the application, describing the claims of prejudice and jurisdictional overreach as unfounded. With the dismissal of this bid, the High Court is now set to resume the trial, where Asamoah will be required to present his evidence and witnesses to the court as he opens his official defence.
