A major hurdle has emerged for the former leadership of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), currently on trial, as three former board members have independently filed witness statements at the Accra High Court unanimously denying ever approving any funding for the contentious Sky Train project.
These testimonies could significantly bolster the Attorney-General’s prosecution of Solomon Asamoah, former GIIF Chief Executive Officer, and Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, former Board Chairman, who face allegations of causing financial loss to the state amounting to $2 million.
The criminal proceedings focus on the Sky Train project—a concept long shrouded in mystery and public scepticism. First proposed around 2017-2018, the project envisioned a massive 200km urban rail network across major cities, with an estimated cost between $2.6 billion and $3.2 billion.
Despite promises of easing urban congestion and delivering modern transport, tangible progress has been virtually nonexistent after $2 million was paid out.
The witness statements reveal a consistent narrative from the former GIIF board members, challenging any claim that the board officially approved funding for the project.
Yvonne Odoley Sowah, who served on the GIIF Board from 2017 to 2021, stated in her May 28, 2025, statement that during her tenure, former CEO Solomon Asamoah “did not submit any document to the Board for the approval of the Sky Train project.” She further confirmed that “the Board never approved the Sky Train Project, nor did it approve the disbursement of any monies under this project.”
Her account was supported by Nana Afua Kyerewaa Ababio, a banker from Ashanti Mampong and GIIF Board member from 2017 to 2020. In her May 30, 2025, statement, Ms. Ababio asserted that her review of board documents showed “no formal request from GIIF management to the Investment Committee, a sub-committee of the Board, for consideration of the Sky Train project.” She concluded that there was no recommendation from the Investment Committee to the full Board for approval, nor any formal presentation or resolution, resulting in no disbursement of funds during her service.
Cecilia Gambrah, from Fumesua, Ashanti Region, who served on the GIIF Board from 2017 to 2020, also unequivocally stated in her June 2, 2025, witness statement: “To the best of my recollection, the Board did not approve any funding for the Sky Train project during the period of my service.”
All three former board members appended legally binding “statements of truth” to their testimonies, affirming the accuracy of their accounts.
Their collective denials suggest a possible circumvention of GIIF’s strict governance and financial protocols—an institution established in 2014 to manage and mobilise funds for Ghana’s critical infrastructure projects.
The high-profile trial is expected to reveal further details about the opaque funding of the Sky Train project, which despite years of public attention, remains unrealised.
Background
In May 2025, the Attorney-General’s Office formally charged Solomon Asamoah and Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi for their alleged roles in authorising an unauthorised $2 million payment related to the Sky Train project.
The charges, filed on May 13 at the Accra High Court (Criminal Division), include willfully causing financial loss to the state under the Criminal Offences Act, conspiracy to commit a crime, and intentional dissipation of public funds under the Public Property Protection Decree.
Prosecutors allege that in February 2019, the accused authorised a $2 million payment from GIIF to Africa Investor Holdings Limited for preliminary work on the project—a system that was never constructed.
Investigations revealed this payment was made without proper board approval and violated GIIF’s governance protocols.
The Sky Train project was initiated in 2018 as a public-private partnership involving the Ministry of Railways Development, Africa Investor Holdings, and GIIF.
This prosecution is part of a wider government effort to clamp down on financial malpractice, following earlier warnings of charges related to the Sky Train and NSS ghost names scandals.