Former president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi, has admitted to paying $100,000 to investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas in exchange for halting the release of the explosive “Number 12” exposé. Nyantakyi revealed that Anas had initially demanded $150,000 to withhold the documentary, which implicated him in corrupt practices.
Nyantakyi claimed that he met with Anas’ lawyers, facilitated by a certain Kwame Gyan, a lecturer at Legon, and handed over the money at Gyan’s residence in Westland. Despite paying the amount, he was informed that it was insufficient to stop the release of the documentary. Subsequently, Anas went ahead with the exposé, which led to Nyantakyi’s resignation from his position as GFA president and the forfeiture of his memberships in FIFA and CAF.
After the documentary was released, Nyantakyi sought reimbursement and received the entire sum, albeit in installments. He recounted receiving $20,000 one day, followed by $10,000 the next, with the payments being made sporadically.
The “Number 12” exposé, which rocked the Ghanaian football scene in 2018, exposed widespread corruption and bribery within the GFA, leading to Nyantakyi’s downfall. In response to his involvement, FIFA imposed a hefty fine of 500,000 Swiss Francs and a lifetime ban from all football-related activities.
Despite facing allegations of fraud and corruption, Nyantakyi was released on bond with several sureties, marking a dramatic turn of events for the once-prominent football administrator.
