An Accra High Court has discharged former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kwesi Nyantakyi and his co-accused after a protracted five-year legal battle.
The ruling, delivered by Her Ladyship Justice Marie-Louise Simmonds, came after the prosecution failed to call a single witness during the trial.
Despite presenting five potential witnesses, the Republic was unable to secure any testimony, ultimately leaving the case with insufficient evidence.
A significant stumbling block arose when the final witness, investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, refused to testify unless he was permitted to wear a mask.
This unusual demand further complicated proceedings. Initially, the High Court ruled that Anas should unmask in chambers before testifying in open court with his mask on.
However, the Court of Appeal later unanimously decreed that he must testify without a mask, a decision that did little to resolve the underlying issues.
The fallout of the number 12 exposé
Nyantakyi had been facing charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and corruption, as well as fraud and corruption, based on evidence captured in the investigative documentary known as the Number 12 exposé.
Released in 2018, the exposé uncovered alleged corrupt practices within African football, including footage of Nyantakyi receiving money from an undercover journalist posing as a businessman. In the film, he was heard promising to leverage his connections, including links to then-President Akufo-Addo, to facilitate questionable business deals.
He was also accused of accepting bribes to influence player selections for the Ghana national team.
Legal and procedural developments
When the case was called yesterday, state prosecutors requested a one-month adjournment to seek the Attorney General’s advice, as they were unable to present Anas as a witness.
Meanwhile, Nyantakyi’s lawyers moved to dismiss the charges due to the prosecution’s failure to secure any credible evidence. Ultimately, faced with the prosecution’s inability to proceed, the judge ruled to discharge Kwesi Nyantakyi.
The decision to discharge Nyantakyi marks the end of a long and contentious legal battle, highlighting significant procedural challenges and raising questions about the effectiveness of the investigative process in high-profile corruption cases.
