Former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi and one other person have been granted bail to the tune of GHS1 million with three sureties each.
Nyantakyi and Abdulai Alhassan, former Chairman of the Northern Regional Football Association, have been slapped with three counts of conspiracy to commit crime including fraud and corruption.
The two are being prosecuted following their indictment in a video documentary released by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas which uncovered supposed rot in Ghana football.
In the video, the then GFA boss was seen using the President’s name, that of the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and other senior government officials, to illegally request for various sums of money from investigators disguised as investors.
Per the facts of the case, Nyantakyi was allegedly paid a sum $65,000 as an inducement.
He is also alleged to have made a request for $12 million to be shared among the President, Vice President and the Minister of Roads in securing lucrative contracts in Ghana.
Abdulai Alhassan is also alleged to have witnessed Nyantakyi’s signing to a Memorandum of Understanding with the Qatar company to facilitate the transfer of money for the deal.
The two have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The case has been adjourned to March 25, 2020 with prosecutors charged to make their disclosures before the adjourned date.
One of the counsels Nyantakyi, Charles Puozuing who spoke to the media said the charges are baseless.
Charges
Per the charge sheet sighted by citinewsroom.com, Nyantakyi and Abdulai Alhassan have both been charged with “conspiracy to commit crime namely fraud by agent contrary to sections 23 (1) and 145 (1) (a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).”
They have also been charged with “fraud by agent contrary to section 145 (1) (a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)” as well as “corruption by public officer contrary to section 239 (1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).”
President Akufo-Addo orders probe
Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas in 2018 released a documentary that exposed corruption in football administration in Ghana and other African countries.
President Akufo-Addo subsequently directed the Police to investigate Kwesi Nyantakyi for a possible crime of fraud after watching the documentary.
Fifa bans Kwesi Nyantakyi for life over Anas exposé
World Football governing body, FIFA also banned Kwesi Nyantakyi from all football-related activities for life.
A statement from FIFA announcing the ban said: “The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has banned Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), for life from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level.”
“The adjudicatory chamber found Mr Nyantakyi guilty of having violated art. 19 (Conflicts of interest), art. 21 (Bribery and corruption) and art. 22 (Commission) of the FIFA Code of Ethics, 2012 edition. As a consequence, Mr Nyantakyi is banned for life from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level. Additionally, a fine in the amount of CHF 500,000 has been imposed on Mr. Nyantakyi.”
Nyantakyi’s resignation
Kwesi Nyantakyi, who was also the first Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) eventually resigned from all football-related positions few days after the video was aired.