After a prolonged five-year legal battle, the Accra High Court has discharged former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kwesi Nyantakyi, and his co-accused due to the prosecution’s failure to present witnesses.
The ruling, delivered by Her Ladyship Justice Marie-Louise Simmonds, effectively brings an end to the case, which had been in limbo since Nyantakyi’s arrest in 2018 following an exposé by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
Despite naming five witnesses, the prosecution struggled to secure their testimonies. The situation worsened when the final witness insisted on testifying while wearing a mask—an unusual request that further complicated the trial. With no evidence presented, the court ruled that there was no basis to continue proceedings, leading to the dismissal of all charges.
Nyantakyi’s legal troubles stemmed from allegations of corruption and bribery, which led to his lifetime ban from football by FIFA, later reduced to 15 years. His fall from grace followed a documentary titled Number 12, which allegedly captured him in compromising situations related to football governance and financial dealings.
Following the court’s decision, Nyantakyi and his legal team expressed relief, maintaining that he had been unjustly targeted. Meanwhile, reactions from the public have been mixed, with some questioning the prosecution’s handling of the case and others calling for further investigations into football administration in Ghana.