The trial of former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi and another defendant has been postponed by the High Court in Accra to October 16, 2024. They face charges of fraud and corruption stemming from investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ 2018 undercover video expose titled #12#.
Both Nyantakyi and Abdulai Alhassan, former Northern Regional GFA President, have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Presiding over the case, Justice Marie-Louise Simmons adjourned proceedings pending the resolution of two appeals lodged by both the prosecution and the defense at the Court of Appeal.
The prosecution is appealing the High Court’s directive for Anas to reveal his identity to Nyantakyi in private before testifying in open court while masked. Nyantakyi’s legal team has also filed an appeal.
Justice Simmons had previously stated, “If by April, no meaningful steps have been taken by the prosecution, Nyantakyi would be discharged.”
In June 2018, Anas released a video investigation revealing former GFA President Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi and other football administrators compromising the integrity of the sport.
Following the release, Mr. Nyantakyi resigned from his positions at the GFA, CAF, and FIFA. He was initially banned for life from football, but the ban was later reduced to 15 years.
Mr. Nyantakyi has claimed that Anas, through his lawyers, demanded $150,000 to suppress the story, but he could only provide $100,000. He stated that Anas deemed the amount insufficient, leading to the video’s release.
“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 said.
In a statement on social media, Anas refuted the allegations, emphasizing that the primary mission of his investigative network, Tiger Eye, is to expose and combat corruption. He asserted that the idea of shielding corrupt individuals is utterly absurd, considering the significant resources and efforts devoted to producing such exposés.
“Tiger Eye P.I. unequivocally asserts that any purported criminal arrangement between Mr Nyantakyi and any alleged lawyer remains solely between Mr Nyantakyi and the purported recipient,” it said.
“Tiger Eye P.I. firmly denies any involvement or knowledge of such activities. Should Mr Nyantakyi’s claims hold substance, we challenge him to pursue legal action against Lawyer Kwame Gyan, including lodging a petition with the General Legal Council, to substantiate his allegations,” it added.
Anas also stated that Mr. Nyantakyi, by his own admission, was both a bribe-giver and a bribe-taker, having attempted to bribe his way out of a thorough investigation into his conduct. Consequently, Anas argued that Nyantakyi’s self-confessed bribery attempt justified the life ban from participating in any football-related activities at both national and international levels, as stipulated by the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE).
“It is noted that Mr Nyantakyi appears to be endeavouring to restore his credibility, presumably with aspirations to contest as a parliamentary candidate for the Ejisu Constituency under the New Patriotic Party,” the statement said.
“The decision regarding Mr Nyantakyi’s eligibility rests with the NPP and the constituents of Ejisu.
Nonetheless, it’s imperative to emphasise that Tiger Eye P.I. conducted a thorough investigation, leading to Mr Nyantakyi’s conviction and subsequent ban from football activities due to bribery, conflict of interest,” it added.