Kwesi Nyantakyi Cleared as High Court Drops Five-Year Case

An Accra High Court has discharged former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kwesi Nyantakyi and his co-accused, bringing an end to a five-year legal battle.

The ruling, delivered by Her Ladyship Justice Marie-Louise Simmonds, came after the prosecution failed to call a single witness throughout the trial. Despite listing five potential witnesses, the Republic was unable to secure testimony. The last of these witnesses refused to testify unless permitted to wear a mask—an unusual demand that further complicated the proceedings.

With no evidence presented, the court ruled that there was no basis to continue the case. A key factor in the decision was the Court of Appeal’s ruling on January 30, 2025, which reinforced the principle that a fair trial must be conducted within a reasonable timeframe. This ruling emboldened the High Court to discharge the accused persons.

The case stemmed from an investigative exposé by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, which initially rocked Ghana’s football community and led to Nyantakyi’s resignation in 2018.

Background of the Case

The allegations against Nyantakyi and his co-accused originated from the "Number 12" documentary, an undercover investigation by Anas that exposed corruption in Ghanaian football. Following the exposé, Nyantakyi faced charges of fraud and corruption, which led to his ban from football-related activities by FIFA.

However, the case dragged on for five years without substantive evidence from the prosecution. The inability to present witnesses and the unusual request of the last witness to testify while wearing a mask further weakened the case.

With this landmark ruling, Nyantakyi is now cleared of all charges. It remains to be seen how this development will impact his future in football and public service.

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