Joe Ghartey invited by NIB for questioning over Sky Train Project

Former Railway Development Minister Joe Ghartey has been invited by the NIB for questioning over the Sky Train project. Read more on the latest developments.

Former Minister for Railway Development, Joe Ghartey, has been invited by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) for questioning regarding the controversial Ghana Sky Train project.

Sources indicate that Ghartey, who served as Minister from 2017 to 2021, is being questioned as part of ongoing investigations into the feasibility and financial dealings of the ambitious urban railway initiative.

This follows earlier reports that other key officials involved in the project have also been called in by the NIB.

The Ghana Sky Train project was announced in 2018 as a major infrastructure initiative to tackle urban traffic congestion, particularly in Accra. Under Ghartey’s leadership, Ghana signed a concession agreement with Africa Investment (Ai) Sky Train Consortium in 2019, with an estimated cost of $3 billion. However, the project never took off, and concerns were raised about its feasibility and financing.

In 2022, the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), a state entity, disclosed that it had invested $2 million in the project but had yet to see any returns. The Auditor General’s report also flagged this expenditure, sparking public scrutiny.

Joe Ghartey’s invitation by the NIB adds to the growing list of officials questioned over the stalled project. It remains unclear whether the investigations will lead to any legal actions, but authorities are reportedly examining key financial transactions and decision-making processes surrounding the project.

Ghartey, who is also a former Attorney General and a former Member of Parliament, has not publicly commented on his invitation.