Ghana’s Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has revealed that Solomon Asamoah, the former CEO of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), is on the run, hiding in Senegal to avoid prosecution for his alleged role in the Sky Train Scandal.
The scandal involves a $2 million payment made for the Sky Train Project, a venture initiated under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
According to Dr. Ayine, the payment was made at the request of Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, then Chairman of the GIIF Board of Directors, and Solomon Asamoah.
Dr. Ayine stated, “In respect of SkyTrain, we can confirm that the $2 million was paid at the request of the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Infrastructure Fund (GIIF), Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, and then CEO, Solomon Asamoah who is currently hiding in Senegal.”
The Attorney General disclosed that Asamoah’s movements were tracked, first to South Africa after he left Ghana on February 2, and later to Senegal, where he has refused to return to Ghana for questioning. Dr. Ayine said, “We tracked him first and noticed that he was in South Africa. So, he left Ghana on February 2, to South Africa. We were monitoring him there, and then he left, and he is now in Senegal.”
When contacted, Asamoah allegedly told authorities that he would not return to Ghana until three months from now. Dr. Ayine stated, “When we contacted him, he told us that he would not come to Ghana until three months from now.”
The Attorney General assured that they have the authority to prosecute Asamoah in absentia, and if there’s a delay, they will start the prosecution with Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi, who is currently in the country.
Dr. Ayine said, “So we are patiently waiting for him. If he wants to be tried in absentia, that is his choice to make. But we have the prosecutorial authority to prosecute him in absentia. The person who acted with him to transfer that money, Prof Akumfi is in the country. So, if there is going to be a delay, we will start the prosecution with him being a suspect who is being tried in absentia.”