Court Discharges Kwasi Nyantakyi in Number 12 Case

A High Court in Accra has struck out charges against former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kwasi Nyantakyi, citing prolonged delays in prosecution. Presiding judge Justice Marie-Louise Simmons ruled that the accused had endured an unreasonable wait for trial, and the court could no longer hold the matter in limbo.

The decision comes after multiple adjournments and prosecution setbacks in the high-profile case involving allegations of fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, and corruption against Nyantakyi and former GFA Executive Committee member Abdulai Alhassan.

Justice Simmons noted that the court had exercised patience for several years, awaiting the prosecution’s readiness.

The case, initially scheduled for trial on March 16, 2021, had further disclosures filed on July 6, 2022, including statements from five witnesses, among them investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

A ruling on the mode of testimony by Anas was made on May 17, 2023, but both parties appealed the decision, further stalling the trial.
“This court has waited patiently for the Court of Appeal’s decision and urged other witnesses to come forward. Yet, the prosecution has failed to proceed, wasting the accused’s time,” the judge stated.
At today’s hearing, the Attorney General’s representative informed the court that the Court of Appeal had delivered its judgment on January 30, 2025, and efforts were underway to furnish the trial court with a copy.

However, the prosecution admitted that its key witness was unavailable and sought a one-month adjournment to reorganize.

“This is about the fifth time we have applied to have the charges struck out due to these delays,” argued Derrick Ackah Nyamekeh, representing the substantive defence counsel for Nyantakyi. “Even when the prosecution was granted permission for an in-camera testimony, they still failed to proceed.”

He further pointed out that the prosecution’s letter to the Attorney-General indicated that the key witness was unwilling to testify due to concerns for his safety.

Court Strikes Out Charges

With no clear roadmap from the prosecution, Justice Simmons ruled that the trial could not continue indefinitely without progress. She ordered that the charges against Nyantakyi and Alhassan be struck out and the accused discharged accordingly.

The case stems from a 2018 undercover investigation by Anas Aremeyaw Anas, which allegedly exposed Nyantakyi engaging in corrupt dealings involving football administration and sponsorship negotiations. The revelations led to his resignation from the GFA and FIFA banning him from football-related activities for life, though the ban was later reduced to 15 years upon appeal.

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