The lawyer representing a former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) has withdrawn his services in the case in which Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi and one other person are facing trial for allegedly causing financial loss of $2 million in a transaction to build an urban sky train system in Accra.
The lawyer, Duke Aaron Sasu, has subsequently informed the court about his decision.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the fund, Solomon Asamoah, are facing six counts of conspiracy, wilfully causing financial loss to the state and intentional dissipation of public funds at the High Court and have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
When the case was called yesterday, for the prosecution to call its first witness, Asamoah’s lawyers were present, but counsel for Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi was absent.
The presiding judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, asked the accused why his lawyer was absent.
In his response, the accused, who had always been represented by Mr Sasu, said: “I had a misunderstanding with my lawyer and it is being mediated”.
Letter
Shortly after the response, one of the court clerks drew the judge’s attention to a letter from Mr Ameyaw-Akumfi’s lawyer.
“Your lawyer has written a letter that he is no more representing you,” the judge told the accused.
The case was subsequently adjourned for Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi to get a lawyer.
Stay of proceedings
Meanwhile, the lawyers for Asamoah, led by Victoria Barth, have filed an application for a stay of proceedings pending the outcome of an appeal challenging the trial court’s decision, which dismissed their motion for further disclosures.
The motion has been slated for October 20, 2025.
