Anas exposé: I was deceived by 'scammers' – Nyantakyi

Former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, has said that he was manipulated by scammers in the Number 12 undercover documentary by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

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”.

This was contained in a resignation letter Mr Nyantakyi submitted after a meeting of the Executive Committee of the GFA on Friday afternoon.

Mr Nyantakyi also offered apologies to President Nana Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State he offended by his “indiscretion in associating them with the private conversations on the video”.

“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,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Mr Nyantakyi has also been banned from all football activities by the Ethics Committee of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).

A statement by FIFA said: “Football official Kwesi Nyantakyi banned from all football activities for ninety days by independent ethics committee.

“The Chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber of ethics committee has provisionally banned the president of Ghana Football Association (GFA) and FIFA Council member,Kwesi Nyantakyi for a duration 90 days. The duration of the ban may be extended for an additional period not exceeding forty-five days. During this time Mr Nyantakyi is banned from all football activities at both national and international level (administrative, sports or any other). The ban comes into force immediately.

“The decision was taken upon the request of the chairperson of the investigatory chamber of the ethics committee carrying out the formal investigations proceedings into Mr Nyantakyi, pursuant to Act 83 Par 1 and Act 84 par 2 of the FIFA code of ethics.”

Mr Nyantakyi is currently being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service for collecting bribe and also using the names of President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to solicit bribes.

In the undercover piece, he said: “We will take over the whole country”, once the so-called investors brought millions of dollars to bribe the president, vice-president and some officials at the presidency.

Government has dissolved the GFA as a result of the rot unearthed by the documentary.