Ghana police grants embattled football chief bail amid corruption probe

The police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Ghana on Wednesday granted president of the football association bail as they continued their investigations into corruption allegations leveled against him.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) boss, Kwesi Nyantakyi was on Tuesday declared wanted after the president of the country, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ordered the CID to probe him for over allegations of “defrauding by false pretenses.”

At the time the order was given, Mr Nyantaki, a Confederation of African Football (CAF) vice president and FIFA executive committee member was in Morocco on CAF duties.

He returned on Wednesday and handed himself over to the police. After interrogation, a search was conducted at his home after which he was granted bail.

Nyantakyi is said to have used the name of the president and his vice president to peddle influence and to extort monies from investigators. The arrest is linked to a yet to be released investigative documentary by a top investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

The documentary titled ‘Number 12,’ is said to detail rot and corruption at the GFA and across the football sphere in the country. Anas is known fro his hard-hitting pieces that dwell mostly on corruption and human rights.

Nyantakyi’s arrest has been met with some measure of excitement as Ghanaian football lovers continue to celebrate the fact that corruption at the football association was now coming to light after years of allegation peddling by sports journalists.

Nyantakyi, who has been president of the football association since 2005 was due to contest for another term in office when election are next held. He is credited for qualifying Ghana to three successive World Cups – Germany 2006, South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014.

Meanwhile, CAF and FIFA have refused to comment on the latest developments. Nyantakyi has been topping twitter trends in the country since the order for his arrest was made.

This morning, I wrote to Fifa.

Wanted to know if they were aware of their Council member being investigated for defrauding in the name of Ghana President NAkufoAddo.

Their response to me: pic.twitter.com/hkhBAF4NxJ

— Gary = (garyalsmith) May 23, 2018