Former President of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, has recounted the personal toll the Number 12 exposé took on his family life, revealing how public perception affected even his young daughter.
Speaking in an interview on Joy News on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, Mr Nyantakyi said the aftermath of the documentary was deeply traumatic, noting that he never watched the exposé himself.
“I never watched the said exposé. This whole society ganged against you—your friends, family, and others. People, unfortunately, believed it,” he said.
He described the period as one of the most difficult moments of his life, adding that he was grateful to friends who stood by him during what he described as a time of turmoil.
“It was very bad for me, but I thank those friends who came around to help me navigate through this turmoil of my life,” he said.
Mr Nyantakyi said the most painful experience was an encounter with his then 9-year-old daughter, who was a student at Ghana International School at the time.
“At that time, my daughter, who was nine years old, asked me a question: ‘Daddy, is it true you are a thief?’” he said.
According to him, he asked his daughter where she had heard such claims, and she told him she heard it on the radio.
“I don’t listen to the radio in my car, but I am sure one of the drivers who probably took her to school might have been listening to the radio, and she heard that,” he explained.
Mr Nyantakyi said he had to reassure his daughter that the allegations were not true, describing the moment as heartbreaking.
“Now imagine this—such a damaging question from your own daughter. The damage is irreparable,” he said.
Despite the emotional impact, Mr Nyantakyi said he did not harbour resentment toward investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who produced the documentary.
“I don’t have anything against him,” he added.
The Number 12 exposé, released in 2018, exposed corruption in Ghanaian football and led to Mr Nyantakyi’s resignation from his roles at the GFA, CAF, and FIFA.
