Anas Aremeyaw Anas, investigative journalist has been ordered by the Supreme Court of Ghana to testify in open Court on the ‘Number 12 expose’ documentary which unveiled the then President of the Ghana Football Association, Kwasi Nyantakyi on corrupt practices.
Historical background
Anas Aremeyaw Anas, the investigative journalist secretly filmed the former President of the Ghana Football Association in March 2021 in a documentary titled ‘Number 12’ exposé. Kwasi Nyantakyi in the video was seen taking cash gifts and peddling influence (alleged) and was slapped with three charges.
Ruling and Charges Following the Exposé (Listed in document filed by the Attorney General’s office)
The charges included;
- Conspiracy to commit fraud.
- Fraud
- Corruption by a public officer.
The video which was televised showed the former president of the GFA engaging in certain deals for his personal interest instead. Consequently, Kwasi Nyantakyi lost his position as the President of GFA as well as losing his positions as FIFA Council Member and 1st Vice President of CAF
A ruling by the High Court which granted an oral application by the prosecution in the criminal case of Kwesi Nyantakyi for Anas Aremeyaw Anas to give evidence in-camera as a prosecution witness was challenged by lawyers of Kwesi Nyantakyi who filed a certiorari application at the Supreme Court.
Lawyers of the former President of the GFA responded by expressing their displeasure and described the High Court’s ruling as erroneous and requested the Supreme Court to allow the investigative journalist’s testimony to be public.
The lawyers, led by Thadeus Sory, in their application argued that the High Court’s order was an infringement of human rights of the applicant per the 1992 Constitution. The order, according to them, was made without regard to due processes and rules of the court which required that a formal and not an oral application be made in such circumstances and the order of the court was made in excess of jurisdiction of the court.
Supreme Court’s Ruling
This led to the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, to rule ordering the celebrated investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas to appear in court and testify publicly as a prosecution witness but it is unclear whether the investigative journalist will testify with or without mask.
The Public’s Opinion
Some Ghanaians have complained in this ruling by the Supreme Court and add that it is only to make Anas vulnerable with respect to the nature of his work.
Ghanaians opined and grumbled that the investigative journalist’s colleague Ahmed Suale who lost his life subsequently due to this exposé has still not had justice, yet compelling Anas to testify in open court has become a priority.
