Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kwesi Nyantakyi and his co-accused have been discharged by an Accra High Court after a prolonged five-year trial.
The ruling, delivered by Her Ladyship Justice Marie-Louise Simmonds, came after the prosecution failed to call a single witness throughout the trial.
Despite presenting five potential witnesses, the Republic was unable to secure testimony.
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The final witness refused to testify unless allowed to wear a mask—an unusual demand that further complicated proceedings. With no evidence presented, the court found 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 time frame.
This emboldened the High Court to discharge the accused persons.
The case, which stemmed from investigative exposé by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, initially rocked Ghana’s football community and led to Nyantakyi’s resignation in 2018.
Background of the “Number 12” Exposé
In 2018, Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye P.I. team released a documentary titled “Number 12”, which exposed deep-rooted corruption in African football. The documentary, which premiered on June 6, 2018, captured several football officials, referees, and administrators accepting bribes to influence matches and other football-related decisions.
Key Highlights of the Exposé
1. Kwesi Nyantakyi’s Involvement
• The most high-profile figure implicated was Kwesi Nyantakyi, then President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and a FIFA Council member.
• In secretly recorded videos, Nyantakyi was seen negotiating deals with supposed investors (who were actually undercover journalists) and allegedly making plans to facilitate corrupt business deals.
• He claimed he could help investors secure government contracts in exchange for money and even suggested they could “take over the whole country” if they provided a bribe of $12 million to top officials, including the President and Vice President of Ghana.
2. Impact on Ghana Football
•Following the release of the exposé, FIFA banned Kwesi Nyantakyi for life from all football-related activities.
•The Ghana government dissolved the GFA, citing widespread corruption, and later restructured it under the leadership of a Normalization Committee.
•Over 50 referees and football officials across Africa were also implicated and faced various sanctions.
3. Legal Consequences
•Nyantakyi was arrested and investigated by Ghanaian authorities.
•He faced charges, including fraud and corruption, but his trial encountered several delays over the years.
• In February 2025, an Accra High Court discharged him due to the prosecution’s failure to present a single witness.
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian entrepreneur, writer, and digital consultant passionate about creating impactful stories and business solutions. He is the Founder & CEO of SamBoad Business Group Ltd, a dynamic company with subsidiaries in digital marketing, logistics, publishing, and risk management.
