Reports suggest that Ghartey, who held the Minister position from 2017 to 2021, is being interrogated as part of ongoing inquiries into the viability and financial transactions of the bold urban railway project.
This comes after previous reports indicating that additional key officials associated with the project have likewise been summoned by the NIB.
The Ghana Sky Train initiative was revealed in 2018 as a significant infrastructure effort aimed at addressing urban traffic congestion, especially in Accra.
Under Ghartey’s direction, Ghana entered into a concession agreement in 2019 with Africa Investment (Ai) Sky Train Consortium, estimated to cost $3 billion. Nonetheless, the project did not succeed, and questions were raised regarding its viability and funding.
In 2022, the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), a government agency, announced that it had invested $2 million in the initiative but had not yet received any returns. The Auditor-General’s report also highlighted this spending, provoking public examination.
The NIB’s invitation to Joe Ghartey contributes to the expanding list of officials interrogated regarding the delayed project. It is still uncertain if the inquiries will result in any legal proceedings, but officials are said to be reviewing significant financial transactions and the decision-making processes related to the project.
Ghartey, a former Attorney General and ex-Member of Parliament, has not made any public remarks regarding his invitation.
NKONKONSA.com
