Former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Prof Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, failed to appear before the High Court on Tuesday, May 20, on grounds of ill-health in the ongoing trial regarding the controversial Accra Sky Train project, which allegedly cost the state $2 million.

His legal representative, Duke Aaron Sasu, informed the court that his client’s absence was due to a medical emergency.

According to Mr Sasu, the former Education Minister under the erstwhile Kufuor administration, was rushed to the emergency ward of the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in the early hours of Tuesday.

The specific nature of Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi's medical condition remains unclear.

However, his legal team has expressed hope for his full recovery and readiness to face trial in due course.

This incident follows an earlier explanation offered on 13th May, when the plea of Prof Akumfi’s co-accused, former CEO of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, Solomon Asamoah, was taken.

On that occasion, counsel for Prof Akumfi told the court that the academic and statesman had recently undergone surgery at UGMC, making him unfit to appear in court.

Hearing has been adjourned to May 26.

Prof Akumfi has been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, specifically, wilfully causing financial loss to the Republic.

The charges, brought under Sections 23(1) and 179A(3)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), relate to a US$2 million payment made in 2019 to Africa Investor Holdings Limited.

The payment was intended to support the development of an urban Skytrain system in Accra, an initiative that was never realised.

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