Former Minister for Railways Development, Peter Amewu, has been arrested by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) in connection with the controversial $2 million Accra Sky Train project.
This project, which aimed to transform Ghana’s urban transportation landscape, has been plagued by allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement.
The Accra Sky Train project was envisioned to cover a total track length of 194 kilometers, aiming to alleviate the city’s mounting traffic congestion.
However, despite the government’s substantial investment, the project failed to materialize, leading to widespread criticism and demands for accountability.
In 2019, the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) invested $2 million to acquire shares in the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) established for the project.
This investment has since been scrutinized, especially after the Auditor-General’s report indicated that the feasibility studies remained inconclusive, and the SPV had not obtained the necessary licenses for the project’s execution.
Peter Amewu, who served as the Minister for Railways Development during the project’s initiation, had previously expressed skepticism about its feasibility.
In a 2021 interview, he stated, “I don’t see any sky train being done in the next 3-4 years. There is not going to be any Sky train in the country. It is not possible.”
The NIB’s decision to arrest Amewu underscores the government’s commitment to addressing potential malfeasance in public projects.
This move follows the recent detention of Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi, another former Minister for Railways Development, who was arrested for allegedly authorizing the release of $2 million to Africa Investor Holdings, the company behind the Sky Train Project.
As investigations continue, the Ghanaian public awaits further disclosures regarding the circumstances that led to the project’s failure and the subsequent financial implications.