BY Issah Olegor
The Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice has taken fresh legal steps to accelerate proceedings in the high-profile Sky Train criminal trial by asking the High Court in Accra to bring forward the hearing of an application for stay of proceedings filed by former Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) Chief Executive Officer Solomon Asamoah and former Board Chairman Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi.
According to a Motion on Notice filed before the High Court (Criminal Division) under Suit No. CR/0448/2025, the Attorney-General is seeking an order abridging the time within which the accused persons’ application for stay of proceedings pending appeal will be heard.
The application, filed by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, was submitted at the Law Chambers of the Attorney-General on July 22, 2026.
In the motion, the Republic is requesting the court to reschedule the hearing of the stay application from Thursday, July 30, 2026, to Monday, July 27, 2026.
The Attorney-General argues that bringing the hearing forward is necessary in the interest of the speedy administration of justice. In addition to the request to abridge time, the Republic is also asking the court to make any further orders it deems appropriate under the circumstances.
The motion is expected to be moved before the High Court at 9:00 a.m. on the appointed date or as soon thereafter as counsel for the Republic may be heard.
Appeal Sparks Fresh Legal Battle
The latest application follows a notice of appeal and accompanying motion for stay of proceedings filed by lawyers for the two accused persons after the High Court dismissed their submissions of no case.
The defence had argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case to warrant calling the accused persons to open their defence.
However, the trial court rejected that argument and ordered both Solomon Asamoah and Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi to enter their defence.
Following that ruling, the accused persons filed an appeal challenging the High Court’s decision and simultaneously sought a stay of proceedings pending the determination of the appeal by the Court of Appeal.
It is this application for stay that the Attorney-General now wants heard earlier than originally scheduled.
Background to the Sky Train Case
The criminal prosecution stems from a 2019 decision by the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) to invest US$2 million in Africa Investor Skytrain Consortium Holdings, acquiring a 10 percent equity stake in the company established to develop the proposed Accra Sky Train project.
The ambitious urban rail transport project was expected to ease traffic congestion in Accra and formed part of the government’s infrastructure development agenda at the time.
Following the change of government after the 2024 general elections, the Attorney-General initiated investigations into the investment, alleging that the transaction was undertaken without approval from the GIIF Board.
The state subsequently charged former GIIF Chief Executive Officer Solomon Asamoah and former Board Chairman Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi with offences including conspiracy to cause financial loss to the state and wilfully causing financial loss arising from the US$2 million investment.
The prosecution has consistently maintained that the investment lacked proper board approval and resulted in financial loss because the Sky Train project was never executed.
Defence Rejects State’s Allegations
Throughout the trial, the defence has strongly disputed the prosecution’s case, arguing that the US$2 million was an equity investment rather than a payment for construction of the railway itself.
The defence further contends that the investment was duly approved by the GIIF Board and properly documented in board minutes, investment committee records and audited financial statements.
Lawyers for the accused have also argued that the project was delayed by the global COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent changes in government policy, rather than any criminal conduct by their clients.
They have further pointed to what they describe as contradictions in the testimony of the prosecution’s witnesses regarding board approval and deliberations on the project.
Court to Decide Next Step
If the High Court grants the Attorney-General’s application to abridge time, the accused persons’ application for a stay of proceedings will be heard on July 27 instead of July 30.
The outcome of that hearing will determine whether the substantive criminal trial continues immediately or is temporarily suspended pending the determination of the appeal before the Court of Appeal.
