The Accra High Court has adjourned the case management conference (CMC) in the US$2 million SkyTrain trial to October 19, 2026. The decision was made after counsel for the first accused, Solomon Asamoah, requested the court to allow the Supreme Court to determine his application seeking to halt the trial. The case management conference was scheduled to run from October 5 to 7, 2026.
The trial involves Mr Asamoah and Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi, who are standing trial over an alleged US$2 million payment by the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) in connection with the proposed Accra SkyTrain project. The prosecution alleges that the money was transferred from GIIF's account to Africa Investor Holdings Limited, a South African company, without the requisite approval of the GIIF Board. Both accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel for Mr Asamoah, Victoria Barth, told the court that her client had invoked the supervisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in respect of the trial. She said the application was for orders of certiorari and prohibition, including an order restraining the High Court from further hearing, continuing with or determining the case. The return date for the application was October 13, 2026.
Ms Barth added that although the Supreme Court had refused Mr Asamoah's application for an interlocutory injunction to halt the trial, her client had demonstrated good faith by filing his witness statement on September 23, 2026. She also stated that 14 subpoenas were subsequently filed on October 2, 2026, in respect of persons Mr Asamoah intended to cross-examine as part of his defence.
Counsel for the second accused, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Yaw Acheampong Boafo, associated himself with the submissions of Ms Barth. The prosecution, represented by Sefakor Batse, said it had been served with the witness statement of the second accused but was yet to receive that of the first accused.
The prosecution reminded the court that at the previous sitting, it had been stated that the filing of processes at the Supreme Court did not automatically stay proceedings before the High Court. Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay adjourned the case to October 19, 2026, after hearing submissions from counsel for the accused persons and the prosecution.
The adjournment allows the Supreme Court to determine Mr Asamoah's application seeking to halt the trial. The case management conference is expected to pave the way for the accused persons to open their defence after the prosecution closed its case. The trial has been ongoing, with the court hearing submissions from both the defence and the prosecution.
Key points
- The Accra High Court has adjourned the US$2 million SkyTrain trial to October 19, 2026.
- The trial involves an alleged US$2 million payment by the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) in connection with the proposed Accra SkyTrain project.
- The accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
