Controversial journalist Kevin Ekow Baidoo Taylor has recently made startling claims on X, implicating one lawyer Kwame Djan in an alleged bribery scandal involving investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas and former Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi.
According to Taylor, Nyantakyi allegedly gave money to this Kwame Djan, who supposedly has close ties to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and is also a lecturer at the University of Ghana.
This assertion, by Taylor, corroborates what Nyantakyi said last week when he revealed details of this alleged blackmail attempt by Anas and his team.
According to Nyantakyi, “Before the video was released, a former colleague at the GFA Exco, Adam Munkaila, took me to Anas’ lawyers, a certain Kwame Djan, a lecturer at Legon. I met him at his residence around Westland, and he told me Anas was his student and had informed him he needed $150,000 to kill the story. I had never been to his house before, “he said in an interview on Onua TV.
‘I gave them $100,000, but they told me the amount was inadequate and later went ahead to release the video. After the video came out, I asked for a refund and even the refund was done in pieces. Today, they would bring $20,000, and the next day another $10,000. They were giving me stories, but eventually I got everything back,” he added.
Taylor also linked Djan to the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, the Okyenhene, and Ghana’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.
“It is true that Nyantekyi gave money to lawyer Kwame Djan who is Nana Addo close legal friend. An NPP guy directly from Akyem Aboakwa. He is a distant family member of Nana Addo and the Okyehene. He is also a lecturer at the University of Ghana and recently represented Dampare at the public enquiry. Ralph Agyapong works in Djan and associates which belongs to Djan so Kwame Djan is also Kennedy Agyapong’s lawyer,” he wrote on X.
Taylor dismissed claims that Djan was instructed to pass the bribe money to him [Kevin Taylor], stating that he had no involvement in the matter.
“It is ridiculous that I would want to take bribe money from Kennedy’s lawyer, as Nyantakyi claims that lawyer Djan took the money to bring to me,” he added.
According to Taylor, information suggests that this Lawyer Kwame Djan in question is now pleading with Nyantakyi to remain silent about the alleged $100,000 bribe, fearing it could jeopardize his supposed appointment to the Supreme Court.
Nyantakyi reportedly possesses evidence of the payments
“Inside filla indicates that Lawyer Djan is currently begging Nyantekyi to keep quite over the 100,000 USD. All along he had lied to Nyantekyi that he was my lawyer when actually I had nothing to do with him, Taylor claimed.
“The reason why Djan is begging Nyantekyi is that Nana Addo has appointed him in waiting to the Supreme Court. He is going to replace one Mariama Owusu who is retiring. This 100, 000 USD issue if is reported to the General Legal Council would end his ambition to the Supreme Court. If you talk about this, his going to the Supreme Court is finished.”
Nyantakyi is said to have paid Djan, who, realizing the implications, returned the money in instalments. However, Nyantakyi is now threatening to report the matter to the General Legal Council (GLC) due to Djan’s alleged involvement.
“He would do everything to stop people from probing, since Nyantekyi has some evidence of receipts of the money. How can a lawyer of such high standard going to Supreme Court stoop so low to collect a bribe and pay back in instalments? Nyantekyi paid to Djan, who when realizing it would bring him problems paid back in bits to Nyantakyi. Nyantekyi has the evidence and is threatening the whole system that he would refer it to the GLC since he is also a lawyer.” Kevin mentioned.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, Kwame Djan is yet to respond to these claims.
Taylor believes Nyantakyi is saying all this now because he is dissatisfied with the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) failure to fulfill alleged promises made to him and has even been denied an unopposed candidacy in Ejisu constituency, leading to his frustration and decision to expose the alleged bribery.
“Nyantakyi people say they don’t care what happens, the promises that were made to them by the NPP government to fight Anas have not been fulfilled. Painfully Nyantekyi requested to go unopposed in Ejisu, the NPP has refused to let him do that so he is angry now hence the name mentioning,” he alleged.
The situation remains tense as Nyantakyi’s threats loom over legal circles, causing widespread speculation and concern.
Anas and his firm, Tiger Eye P.I., have vehemently denied Nyantakyi’s claims of a $100,000 bribe related to the Number 12 exposé. In a statement, they dismissed the allegations as “preposterous” and “indicative of naivety,” underscoring their mission to “expose and confront corruption” and the impossibility of suppressing such a significant investigation.
Anas further clarified that at no point did they engage the services of a lawyer named Kwame Gyan, as alleged by Nyantakyi. Instead, they have consistently worked with CromwellGray LLP for legal representation. They challenged Nyantakyi to provide evidence of his claims and to take legal action if his allegations hold any substance.
Nyantakyi, on the other hand, has been vocal about his version of events. He insists that Anas, through a lawyer, demanded $150,000 to halt the airing of the exposé.
The unfolding scandal continues to grip public attention, raising concerns about corruption and influence within Ghana’s legal and political spheres.