BY Daniel Bampoe
In a dramatic twist in the high-profile legal proceedings involving former officials of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), former Assin Central MP and presidential hopeful Kennedy Agyapong has stepped forward to act as a surety for Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, the embattled former Board Chairman of GIIF.
This development unfolded on Monday, May 26, at the Financial and Economic Division of the High Court in Accra, where Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi was granted bail to the tune of GH¢10 million.
The court, presided over by Justice Comfort Tasiame, ordered that two sureties must justify the full amount with landed properties located within the Greater Accra Region.
Kennedy Agyapong, who was physically present in court, voluntarily offered to serve as one of the sureties, reportedly to help fast-track the fulfillment of the bail conditions.
His intervention was seen as a strong show of solidarity with the octogenarian academic and statesman, whose reputation and health have come under intense scrutiny in the wake of the ongoing investigations.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi, a former Minister for Education and former Minister for Ports and Harbours, is facing charges believed to be linked to his tenure at GIIF, which has come under investigation over its role in Ghana’s controversial Sky Train project.
While the details of the charges are yet to be made public, the case has attracted national attention due to the involvement of high-ranking former officials and the scale of financial oversight being questioned.
In court, his legal counsel, Duke Aaron Sasu, pleaded for bail to be granted on the accused’s own recognisance.
He highlighted the professor’s long-standing service to the nation, spanning academia, government, and public sector governance.
Sasu further emphasized his client’s advanced age of 80 and deteriorating health, noting that he had recently undergone two medical procedures and would require continued treatment.
While the Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, did not object to the request for bail, he urged the court to maintain consistency by applying similar conditions as those imposed on the first accused in the same case—a GH¢15 million bail with two sureties justified by landed property in Greater Accra.
Justice Tasiame, however, opted for a reduced bail amount of GH¢10 million, reflecting what many observers consider a balancing act between judicial fairness and health considerations.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi also served as a Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Cape Coast and chaired the Board of the Public Procurement Authority in a career that spans over four decades.
His inclusion in the GIIF case marks a significant development in Ghana’s broader effort to enhance transparency and accountability in public infrastructure financing.
The move by Kennedy Agyapong, a known advocate for anti-corruption and internal accountability within public institutions, has added a political dimension to the case.
While he did not comment publicly after the proceedings, his presence and action signal possible strategic alliances or broader implications in the lead-up to the 2028 general elections.
