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The High Court has discharged former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kwesi Nyantakyi from the ongoing trial related to the infamous Number 12 exposé.
The decision follows the prosecution’s inability to present investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, a key witness in the case, to testify against Nyantakyi.
Nyantakyi had been facing charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, corruption, and related offences after being captured in Anas’ 2018 undercover documentary, which exposed alleged corruption in African football.
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The exposé led to his resignation as GFA President and a lifetime ban from football, later reduced to 15 years by FIFA.
The trial had been marred by legal battles over whether Anas should testify while wearing his signature mask. While Anas insisted on maintaining his anonymity, Nyantakyi’s defence team demanded that he testify in open court without a mask.
A High Court ruling initially allowed Anas to testify while masked but required him to reveal his identity in chambers to Nyantakyi beforehand. However, the Court of Appeal overturned this ruling, ordering Anas to testify without a mask in open court.
With this ruling in place, the prosecution failed to produce Anas as a witness, leading to prolonged delays in the trial.
When the case was called on Thursday, February 13, 2025, state prosecutors requested a one-month adjournment to seek further legal guidance from the Attorney General.
However, Nyantakyi’s lawyers strongly opposed the request, urging the court to strike out the charges against their client for want of prosecution. They argued that the prolonged delays and the prosecution’s inability to proceed with the case violated their client’s right to a fair trial.
After hearing both arguments, the judge ruled in favour of the defence and discharged Kwesi Nyantakyi.
The Number 12 exposé, released in June 2018 by Anas and his investigative team, uncovered deep-seated corruption within Ghanaian and African football administration. Nyantakyi was caught on tape allegedly accepting bribes from undercover reporters posing as investors.
In the footage, Nyantakyi was seen making promises to help secure lucrative business deals using his influence in government.
He was also accused of involvement in match-fixing and player selection scandals.
Following the exposé, FIFA handed him a lifetime ban from all football-related activities, which was later reduced to 15 years after an appeal. He also resigned from his position as GFA President and lost his roles within CAF and FIFA.
Nyantakyi’s discharge does not necessarily mean he has been acquitted; the prosecution may still explore legal options, including re-filing charges if new evidence emerges. However, the ruling raises concerns about the effectiveness of high-profile corruption trials in Ghana, especially when prosecution witnesses refuse to testify.
It also reignites the debate over Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ investigative methods, particularly whether his use of undercover recordings and anonymity can withstand legal scrutiny in court.
For now, Kwesi Nyantakyi walks free, marking another dramatic twist in the long-running Number 12 saga.
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