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Sky Train scandal: Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi fails to appear in court over medical emergency
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.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Bekwai Circuit Court for his role in a 2022 robbery at a mining site at Manso Akwasiso in the Ashanti South Region.
The convict, Dominic Ofori, also known as Fanta, was arrested on 16th February 2026 after years on the run. He pleaded guilty before the Bekwai Circuit Court to robbery contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 Act 29, and was accordingly sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour.
On March 20, 2022, the Manso Adubia District Police received intelligence that a group of armed men from Manso Abodom were planning to attack a mining site at Manso Akwasiso to rob the owner of gold concentrate. Acting on the information, police mounted a coordinated operation and laid an ambush at the site.
At about 5:30 pm the same day, four-armed men arrived at the site, fired indiscriminately, and robbed the miners of their gold concentrate. The police team on surveillance intervened, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Three of the suspects, Abu Abubakar, Musah Latif, and Gideon Takyi, sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival at St Martins Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum. Dominic Ofori escaped at the time but was later arrested and put before the court.
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has assured the public of its continued commitment to combating violent crimes and bringing offenders to justice.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested 45-year-old Isaac Boafo, also known as “Duabo King,” for allegedly publishing false news intended to cause fear and panic.
Police said the arrest follows a viral TikTok video in which Boafo claimed that four officers at the Central Police Station in Kumasi engaged in inappropriate conduct with commercial sex workers during night patrols in Asafo.
Officers from the Police Intelligence Directorate (Ashanti Region) apprehended Boafo after receiving intelligence about the video.
During questioning, he admitted to creating the video to attract views and engagement online, and acknowledged that he could not prove the allegations.
Boafo also admitted making comments about the President of the Republic for content purposes and could not defend those statements.
He has been formally charged and is in detention as investigations continue.
The Ashanti Regional Police have warned the public against publishing or sharing false information on social media, noting that such acts can cause fear, panic, and damage reputations.
They said anyone found engaging in similar conduct will face legal action.
By: Jacob Aggrey
