Supreme Court Rules on Sky Train Case After Notorious No-Case Ruling

The Supreme Court of Ghana is set to rule on a case involving the Sky Train project, a contentious urban rail transport initiative that was abandoned in Accra. The case has taken a new turn after lawyers for Solomon Asamoah, a former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, filed two applications at the Supreme Court.

No-Case Ruling and Stay of Proceedings

The case began with a no-case ruling by the trial court on July 2, dismissing the accused persons' submissions. The court directed Solomon Asamoah and Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi, the former Board Chairman, to file their respective defences within 21 days. However, neither of the accused persons filed a defence, instead applying for a stay of proceedings. The trial court subsequently granted them an additional 21 days to file their defences, bringing the total period to 42 days.

Supreme Court Intervention

On Friday, August 21, lawyers for Solomon Asamoah filed two applications at the Supreme Court. The first application seeks an order of certiorari to quash the trial court's dismissal of his submission of no case and the variation of his bail conditions. The second application seeks an interlocutory injunction to stay proceedings pending the determination of the certiorari application.

Case Management Conference and Next Steps

The Supreme Court proceedings could determine whether the trial of the accused persons in the Sky Train case proceeds as scheduled at the lower court. The case management conference is set to take place on Monday, August 24, but the Supreme Court's interlocutory injunction application is scheduled to be heard on Thursday, August 27. The outcome of the Supreme Court's ruling will be crucial in determining the fate of the Sky Train project, which was conceived as an urban rail transport initiative but failed to materialise as originally envisaged.

The Ghana Sky Train project was intended to provide an elevated railway system in Accra, but the project's failure has left many questions unanswered. The Supreme Court's ruling will shed light on the legitimacy of the no-case ruling and the stay of proceedings, and whether the trial of the accused persons will proceed as scheduled. The outcome of the case will be closely watched by the public, as it has significant implications for the country's infrastructure development and the rule of law.

Source: JOY