An attempt by the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Solomon Asamoah, to halt the case in which he has been charged together with Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi over the $2million Sky Train case has been met with opposition from the Office of the Attorney General.
The former CEO wants the High Court to halt proceedings to appeal against a ruling of the Court that refused his request for an order to be made for the AG to furnish him with more documents.
Following the dismissal of his request, he had instructed his lawyers to appeal against the decision by the Court not to grant his request.
His lawyers, per a motion filed last week, want the High Court to stay its proceedings until their appeal is heard and determined. Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi, the former board chairman, and former Chief Executive, Solomon Asamoah, are before the Court on six counts.
They have pleaded not guilty, including the charge of willfully causing financial losses to the tune of $2 million over the Sky Train project.
In court on Monday, October 20, when the case was called, Mrs. Sefakor Batse, a Chief State Attorney, indicated that the prosecution had filed an affidavit in opposition on October 14.
Mrs. Victoria Barth, who is representing the accused (applicant), said she had only been served with the affidavit in opposition and would need time to peruse it.
“I have just been handed a copy of the affidavit of opposition just this morning,” she said. “Consequently, I humbly pray that this matter be adjourned to Wednesday, October 22, which is a date already reserved for this suit.
“This will afford me the opportunity to thoroughly prepare to put forward the first accused person’s (Solomon Asamoah) case as may be affected by the affidavit in opposition,” she explained.
Justice Audrey Kocuvi-Tay, after listening to counsel for the first accused person, adjourned the matter to Wednesday, October 22.
Mr. Asamoah was granted bail in the sum of GH¢15 million after pleading not guilty to charges on May 13. In addition to the bail sum, the Court said he should provide two sureties.
The sureties are to justify the bail bond with a registered land or property located in the Greater Accra region. The sureties are also to deposit copies of their Ghana Cards and digital addresses at the registry of the court.
The Court directed that the first accused person is also to deposit his local and foreign passports with the registry of the Court. While on bail, he is to report to the police every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until the final determination of the case.
He denied three charges, including conspiracy, causing financial loss, and intentional dissipation of public funds in his involvement in the Sky Train transactions.
He was charged together with the former Board Chairman of the GIIF, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, who is on GH¢10 million bail.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
