Number 12 exposé: Kwasi Nyantakyi to identify Anas without mask in court – Court rules

The High Court in Accra has ruled that former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwasi Nyantakyi, should be able to identify investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas without his mask in chambers during the criminal case against him.

The identification will take place before Anas testifies in open court.

Nyantakyi is facing charges of fraud and corruption, which stem from his alleged involvement in offences captured in the Number 12 documentary by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

The documentary purportedly shows Nyantakyi accepting cash, and gifts, and engaging in influence peddling.

Initially, the High Court had granted the state's application for Anas to testify in chambers.

However, Nyantakyi's lawyers filed a certiorari application at the Supreme Court to challenge the High Court's decision.

The Supreme Court granted Nyantakyi's application, stating that a formal application should have been made rather than an oral one.

In the recent court hearing, the judge partially granted an application regarding Anas Aremeyaw Anas testifying on camera.

According to the ruling, Nyantakyi will be able to identify Anas Aremeyaw Anas without his mask in chambers whenever Anas testifies.

Meanwhile, Anas Aremeyaw Anas will testify in open court while concealing his identity with a mask.

The court clarified that Nyantakyi will always have the opportunity to identify Anas in chambers when Anas testifies.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas, whose investigation led to Nyantakyi's resignation from various football positions, had expressed concerns for his safety if he were to testify openly.

Ahmed Suale, a key witness in the case, was killed, and Anas offered to testify in his place.

In June 2018, Nyantakyi was captured on camera receiving $65,000 in cash from an undercover reporter, who was actually Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

The footage was aired by BBC Africa's investigations unit, Africa Eye. Nyantakyi believed the cash was part of a sponsorship deal for the Ghana FA, an organization he had been leading since 2005.

However, the deal was a setup by the reporters to expose Nyantakyi's alleged misconduct.

As a result of the documentary's revelations, Nyantakyi lost his positions as a FIFA Council Member and 1st Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).