Court clears Kwesi Nyantakyi after five-year trial over lack of evidence

An Accra High Court has discharged former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kwesi Nyantakyi and his co-accused after five years of legal proceedings, citing the prosecution’s failure to present any evidence.

The ruling, delivered by Her Ladyship Justice Marie-Louise Simmonds, followed the prosecution’s inability to call a single witness despite initially listing five potential witnesses. The final witness even refused to testify unless permitted to wear a mask, a request deemed unusual and further complicating the case.

With no evidence presented, the court ruled that there was no basis to continue the trial. The decision was influenced by a January 30, 2025, Court of Appeal ruling, which reinforced the right to a fair trial within a reasonable time frame.

The case originated from an investigative exposé by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, which shook Ghana’s football community and led to Nyantakyi’s resignation in 2018. However, after years of stalled proceedings and prosecutorial inaction, the court ultimately discharged the accused persons.