The Court of Appeal has scheduled Thursday, January 30, 2025, to rule on the prosecution’s appeal against a High Court decision requiring investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas to reveal his identity to Kwasi Nyantakyi before testifying in open court.
The three-member panel, led by Justice Anthony Oppong and comprising Justices Kweku Tawiah Ackaah Boafo and Aboagye Tandoh, set the date after instructing both parties to submit their written arguments by December 16, 2024.
This decision will determine the next steps in the ongoing High Court case involving Nyantakyi, a former president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), and Abdulai Alhassan, who are both facing charges of conspiracy to commit fraud.
High Court Ruling and Appeal
On May 17, 2023, Justice Marie-Louise Simmons of the High Court granted a request by Nyantakyi’s lawyers, ordering Anas to unmask before the accused in chambers while retaining his anonymity during open court testimony. However, Anas, the prosecution’s key witness, refused to comply with the order, delaying the trial’s progress.
In response, state prosecutors appealed the decision, bringing the matter to the Court of Appeal for resolution.
During a hearing at the High Court on January 14, 2025, the case, presided over by a relieving judge, Justice Ruby Aryeetey, was adjourned to February 13, 2025, pending the Court of Appeal’s verdict.
Defense Statement
Defense counsel Baffour Gyau Bonsu Ashia confirmed that the appeal’s ruling would significantly impact the trial. “We await the decision from the Court of Appeal, which has been set for January 30. In the meantime, we have requested an adjournment to February 13 to align with the substantive matter,” he explained. The request was granted.
Charges and Bail
Nyantakyi and Alhassan have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and corruption, stemming from their involvement in Anas’ investigative exposé, Number 12. Both defendants remain on bail, set at GH₵1 million each, with three sureties required to be justified. They are also mandated to report to the case investigator until the trial concludes.
Background on Number 12
The case originates from Anas’ June 6, 2018, documentary, Number 12, which exposed widespread corruption within Ghanaian football. The undercover investigation captured Nyantakyi allegedly accepting $65,000 from a reporter posing as a businessman, alongside allegations of bribery involving player selection, referee appointments, and match-fixing.
The exposé implicated over 100 referees and football officials, sparking nationwide outrage and calls for the dissolution of the GFA. Amid mounting pressure, Nyantakyi resigned from his positions, including first vice president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). He was later handed a lifetime ban by FIFA from all football-related activities.
Implications
The upcoming Court of Appeal ruling will be pivotal in determining whether Anas will testify in the trial, a key factor in resolving one of Ghana’s most high-profile corruption cases.
SOURCE: http://dew360.net
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