By Ken Kuranchie, one of the lawyers of Former Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, has said his client is innocent of the charges that led to his arrest by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
Prof Ameyaw-Ekumfi was detained by the NIB on Sunday, February 23 over the $2M Sky Train scandal.
His detention was part of an ongoing probe into financial irregularities involving a $2M payment to Africa Investor Holdings for the failed Accra Sky Train project. He has been released on bail.
Speaking to journalists, Mr Ken Kuranchie said “My client is innocent, he is innocent absolutely of all charges but we shall see, let the government build its case.”
He further explained that “In the morning he was invited to NIB, they took him to national headquarters, later brought him to Kawukudi branch, they interrogated him, when they got here they said they had arrested him, they asked him some questions, they said they were going to detain him, right now they said they are releasing him.
“The arrst has to do with some of the work he did when he was the board chair of GIIF. Investigations have just started.”
Background: The Sky Train Scandal
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi’s detention followed concerns raised in a 2021 Auditor-General’s report, which revealed that the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up for the Sky Train project did not have an operational license, yet $2M was disbursed through GIIF under his leadership.
The project, initially announced in 2017, was expected to transform urban transport in Accra, but it never materialized. In July 2023, the Minority in Parliament demanded accountability, questioning why public funds were released without necessary approvals or feasibility studies.
While Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi has regained his freedom, it remains unclear whether he will face further legal action or additional questioning.
