Lawyers for Prof Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, the former Board Chair of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, have withdrawn their services.
This was disclosed by Justice Kocuvie-Tay, presiding judge in the Sky Train trial.
Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi and the former CEO of GIIF, Solomon Asamoah, are facing multiple charges, including causing financial loss to the state for their roles in the botched Accra Sky Train Project.
When the case was called Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi notified the court that his lawyer would not be present.
After being prodded by the judge, he indicated that there had been a misunderstanding between him and his counsel, a matter which he added that he was hopeful would be resolved soon.
But Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay indicated that the court had received a letter from the lawyers stating withdrawal of their services.
“He has written a letter that he’s no longer your lawyer. He’s a human so he can change his heart. Be that as it may you can procure the services of another,” she advised.
The case was adjourned to Monday October 20 after Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem Sai indicated that the defence lawyers had filed an application which needed to be moved.
At the last adjourned date, the defence lawyers moved a motion which would compel the prosecution to disclose documents which they argued contained minutes of board and committee meetings—contain exculpatory material necessary to challenge the prosecution’s claim that the investment lacked required authorisation.
The prosecution objected to the motion, indicating that there were no such documents in existence or in their possession.
The court then dismissed the application.
The defence lawyers have since challenged the decision of the High Court and filed an application to stay proceedings.
