The National Democratic Congress (NDC) wants President Nana Akufo-Addo to "open himself up for transparent and credible investigations by an independent body" to clear his name in the bribery scandal unearthed in the ‘Number 12’ exposé undertaken by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The opposition party is also asking the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Police Service to inform Ghanaians about the status of their investigations into the scandal which has tarnished the image of Ghanaians and Ghana.
The NDC's call, comes on the heels of FIFA's decision to place a life ban on the former Ghana Football Association (GFA) boss Kwesi Nyantakyi.
Mr. Nyantakyi was first handed a 90-day provisional ban in June 2018, after the showing of a video and audio evidence of allegations of corruption leveled against Mr. Nyantakyi by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, in his piece titled, Number 12.
The suspension was further extended by ninety days in September 2018, before the announcement of the lifetime ban on October 30, 2018.
The credibility of the Ghana Football Association, which manages all national football activities in the country has been dented by Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ investigative film which exposes massive rot and corruption in local football.
Life Ban & Huge Fine
Football's world governing body, on Tuesday, announced that Mr Nyantakyi has been banned from taking part in all football-related activities and the ban takes effect immediately.
FIFA's Adjudicatory Chamber of the Independent Ethics Committee found Mr Nyantakyi guilty of having violated Article 19 (conflict of interest), Article 21 (Bribery and corruption) and Article 22 (Commission) of the FIFA Code of Ethics, 2012 edition.
Mr Nyantakyi was additionally fined 500,000 Swiss Francs (over GHS 2.4million).
The life ban follows extensive investigations into the conduct of Mr Nyantakyi who was captured in an explosive expose by Ghanaian investigator Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
Anas and Tigereye PI Petition To Fifa
On Wednesday, June 6, the Adjudicatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee received a complaint and request from journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas through Cromwell Gray LLP, to commence investigations into the conduct of Kwesi Nyantakyi based on the content of the journalists’ latest investigative film titled ‘Number12’.
"Worrying Revelations"
The piece captured Kwesi Nyantakyi in a compromised position. He was filmed supposedly taking $65,000 (£48,000) from an undercover reporter pretending to be a businessman.
The video among other things captured top officials of the football association including Mr Nyantakyi, taking bribes to influence the invitation of players to the national team, influencing the duration of playing time offered to some players and influencing the selection of unfit players and referees to participate in games.
Also, more than 100 referees were caught on tape taking bribes to manipulate the outcome of games in a team’s favour.
Also in the said video, Mr Nyantakyi was seen making several claims about the President and a host of other top government appointees and negotiating with undercover journalists posing as investors.
According to him, the President is broke and would welcome his palms being greased with $5 million.
''I know for a fact that Nana Addo sold his properties to win the elections so his family is very broke. His brothers are always asking for money, therefore, the $5 million will ease the burden,” he stated.
However, responding to Nyantakyi’s claims, President Akufo-Addo in a tape recording on the “Number 12” video said he “knows nothing” about what the embattled GFA boss' assertions, adding that "it is completely false.”
Apology To The President
Mr Nyantakyi later in a letter apologised to the president for his indiscretion.
“I hereby apologise unreservedly to the father of the nation, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, H.E. the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Hon. Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State for indiscretion in associating them with the private conversations on the video,” Mr Nyantakyi noted in a statement on Friday 8 June 2018.
According to him, he “committed series of errors of indiscretion” in “private discussions I had with ‘scammers’ who deceived me into thinking they were genuine persons interested in investing in our country”.
“I wish to clarify that at no time prior to or subsequent to any deliberations on the video did I consult, contact or inform any government official about discussions on the video. I take sole and personal responsibility for the proceedings on the video.”
Clear Your Name
But minutes after the news of Mr Nyantaki's life ban went viral, and in spite of the fact that he (Nyantakyi) had distanced the president from his questionable dealings, the opposition NDC, through its National Organizer, Kofi Adams, issued a statement insisting that since Nana Akufo Addo has been implicated in the exposé as "the head of a bribe collection syndicate at the Presidency," he must clear his name.
"...Mr. Nyantakyi also suggested in the said video, that such acts have made the President amenable to his influence. We are appalled, that unlike FIFA, the government of Ghana has made little effort to look into the matter with a view to bringing culpable officials to book, despite available evidence...We urge President Akufo-Addo to open himself up for transparent and credible investigations by an independent body to clear his name in the said matter.
"We expect that government will take a cue from FIFA’s firm action and take steps to put this matter to rest in a manner that restores dignity and confidence in the integrity of the Presidency and our football as a whole," portions of the statement read.
Read the full statement below
National Democratic Congress Statement on FIFA's Lifetime Ban of Kwasi Nyantakyi
The National Democratic Congress has taken note of FIFA’s lifetime ban imposed on Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi, the former President of the Ghana Football Association and a close confidant of President Akuffo-Addo.
This lifetime ban is the result of painstaking investigations conducted by the investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, which exposed corruption and bribery involving senior Ghana Football Association officials.
FIFA's decision to ban Mr. Nyantakyi after months of rigorous investigations raises serious questions about the involvement of President Akuffo-Addo in the bribery scandal; and also brings to the fore, once again, the need for the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to inform Ghanaians about the status of their investigations into this scandal which has tarnished the image of Ghanaians and Ghana.
It would be recalled that Mr. Nyantakyi was caught on video revealing very worrying corrupt practices and in the process implicated the President of the Republic, H. E. Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo as the head of a bribe collection syndicate at the Presidency.
More pointedly, Mr. Nyantakyi was seen in the said tape, arranging for the payment of $ 5 million to the President and similar amounts for several top government officials, in order to facilitate the award of juicy contracts to supposed investors.
Mr. Nyantakyi also suggested in the said video, that such acts have made the President amenable to his influence.
We are appalled, that unlike FIFA, the government of Ghana has made little effort to look into the matter with a view to bringing culpable officials to book, despite available evidence.
We find as completely inadequate, the purported investigation by the Police CID whose conduct has served to compromise any outcome.
We urge President Akufo-Addo to open himself up for transparent and credible investigations by an independent body to clear his name in the said matter.
We expect that government will take a cue from FIFA’s firm action and take steps to put this matter to rest in a manner that restores dignity and confidence in the integrity of the Presidency and our football as a whole.
Signed,
Kofi Adams
(National Organiser)
30th October, 2018
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Look at his dental formation like that a cricket which he is not embarrassed of to hide from the public. What sense can come from this mouth. Shame.
EDUCATED ILLITERATES AND THEIR FULL 'BUGA BUGA' SOLDIERS THAT IS NDC FOR YOU. IS FIFA STATUTE THE SAME AS GHANAIAN CRIMINAL CODE OR VICE VERSA? THEY NEVER LEARN AND WILL ALSO NOT HUMBLE THEMSELVES TO UNDER STUDY THEIR MASTERS TILL THY KINGDOM COME, THE NPP.
Seems NDC are confused and they seem nopt to have awaken up from the massive defeat. It is very painful but seems they can see that they have been rejected so they want to do anything to show that they are around. Oh NDC. If people like kofi adams will be allowed to write things which are not sensible, then am afraid NDC is in disarray.Kofi Adams up till now has not been able to come out to deny that he diverted the campaign money which was given to him to give to foot soldiers into his personal account. He should rather come out to deny if it is not true. Ghanaians have already seen what NDC can do so they should forget 2020, even now that NDC is planning to bring in John Mahama, it will be a call chop for NPP
i can not believe this. that the NDC can be so incompetent even in opposition. i can not believe this. seriously, do people listen to this mind-less attacks? no, Ghana needs a good opposition, definitely not this one.
NDC and their ***barred word***
If you thought NDC was incompetent in government, you need to revise your notes. They are worse in opposition. Listen to this Kofi Adams who has govt vehicles in his possession, attacking the president. He has cotton wool in his an*us, yet jumping over fire? Time will tell.
Ndc be dat oo dey no dey read so all the time they show their incompetent in every topic all bcos they surround themselves with the INCOMPETENT ONE. Why shd nyantekyi apologize to Nehemiah Akufo Addo and the ECONOMIC WIZARD BAWUMIA? NDC YAAMUTU NDC YAAMUTU NDC YAAMUTU NDC YAAMUTU NDC YAAMUTU NDC YAAMUTU NDC YAAMUTU
are we to investigate him because his named was mentioned by Nyantakyi or because they gave Nyantakyi money to be given to Nana. Please someone should school me on this. Did we investigate Mahama when he took the Ford expedition which was cleared at customs? NDC, dont have anything to say neither offer Ghanaians so they just embark on cheap politics. Stop the clowning around and do some serious politics because what you guys are doing these days is nothing but empty barrels making noise. Answer Bawumia's challenge for you to name one social intervention policy that you came up with in your 8 years on governance. If I were you I will be doing a press confrence to answer that.
The silence of the CID after the detention of nyantakyi and his subsequent bail is suspicious. For so many months after his arrest and bail, nobody has heard from the police, the consequence of the investigation. I am pretty sure nana addo might hace ordered the investigation to stop since he was involved. Meanwhile he was the one who triggered the whole move. The matter should be put to rest as soon as possible, if police will update Ghanaians on the outcome of its investigation.
Of course nana addo needs to be investigated. On what basis did he order the arrest of nyantakyi when the anas project was first presented to him. If nothing untoward happened, he wouldn't have asked the police to arrest nyantakyi. Since the arrest have Ghanaians been informed about the outcome of the investigation. Even FIFA who were far away was able to suspend him for for a while, while full scale investigation was completed which has resulted in nyantakyi's ban. No one can sweep the allegations nyantakyi made against the President and his vice under the carpet. Every statement he made against the president, the vice and the ministers should be thoroughly investigated for Ghanaians to know its outcome. The president is noted for clearing every matter of corruption against himself and his government. Now that FIFA has banned nyantakyi, its clear he did what he was accused of and really meant whatever he said. For all we may know, he has even confessed to FIFA that he was really in cahoots with nana addo and barwumia to execute that corrupt act.