An Accra High Court has discharged former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kwesi Nyantakyi and his co-accused after a prolonged five-year legal battle.
Presiding Judge Justice Marie-Louise Simmonds ruled in favor of the accused after the prosecution failed to present a single witness throughout the trial.
Despite listing five potential witnesses, none testified, with the final witness insisting on wearing a mask before testifying, a condition the court found unacceptable.
The absence of evidence rendered the case unsustainable, leading to the discharge of the accused persons.
A key influence in the ruling was the Court of Appeal’s January 30, 2025, decision, which emphasized the right to a fair and timely trial.
The case, which stemmed from a 2018 investigative exposé by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, led to Nyantakyi’s resignation and major reforms in Ghanaian football.
Following the court’s verdict, the Minority in Parliament condemned what they described as politically motivated attacks on former government officials, vowing to resist any form of “political persecution.”
They called for due process and warned against using the judiciary as a tool for settling political scores.
