The High Court hearing the case involving former Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) Board Chairman, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, has cautioned that proceedings will continue in his absence if he fails to appear with legal representation by Wednesday.
The warning, issued by presiding judge Justice Audrey Kocuvi-Tay, followed the accused’s appearance in court on Monday without his lawyer. Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi’s new counsel, Yaw Boafo, was reportedly unable to attend as he had not yet completed the formal process required to represent him in the case.
Chief State Attorney Sefakor Batse voiced frustration at the continued delays, noting that the prosecution’s first witness was ready to testify.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi and the former Chief Executive Officer of GIIF, Solomon Asamoah, are facing charges of causing financial loss to the state in connection with the controversial Sky Train project.
At a previous sitting, defence lawyers filed a motion asking the court to compel the prosecution to release key documents they said were vital to their clients’ defence. Victoria Barth, counsel for the first accused, argued that the materials — including minutes of board and committee meetings — would show that the investment decision was properly authorised.
Counsel for Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi, Duke Aaron Sasu, supported the motion, insisting that full disclosure by the prosecution was necessary for a fair trial.
However, Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai opposed the application, maintaining that the requested documents were not in the possession of either the prosecution or its investigators.
In her ruling, Justice Kocuvi-Tay dismissed the motion, holding that the defence had not proven that the materials were in the custody of the prosecution. She advised that the defence could explore other legal means to obtain the documents if they deemed them relevant to their case.
