Kwesi Nyantakyi, another person charged with fraud, granted GHc1million bail
Former president of Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi has formally been slapped with fraud charges by the state.
A former Executive Committee member of the association and close confidant of Kwesi Nyantakyi, Abdulai Alhassan has also been slapped with two charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and fraud.
The Principal State Attorney, Victoria Asiedua on Wednesday, March 4th told the Accra High Court that Mr. Nyantakyi, together with his close confidant and former Northern Regional Chairman of the GFA, Abdulai Alhassan executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a ghost company to secure sponsorship for the Ghana Premier League in 2017.
An investigative piece undertaken by Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his private firm, Tiger Eye P.I exposed the dealings of the former president of Ghana Football Association and his close confidant, Abdulai Alhassan.
The State Attorney said:
“At a meeting held with the accused persons on 7th October 2017, at the Jood Palace Hotel in Dubai, TigerEye PI held itself out as H.H Sheikh Hammad Al Thani, his secretary Dr. Marzug A. Albadawir and other staff of the Sheikh as jointly representing Medgulf while the 1st accused person presented himself as a powerful person and a potential public officer who could influence the President, Vice President, Minister for Roads and Highways and Minister for Transport of Ghana to promote the business interest of Medgulf in Ghana.”
“At that meeting, it was agreed between TigerEye PI and the accused persons that Medgulf would sponsor the GPL with a total sum of $15 million for a 3 year period resulting in the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Medgulf and a non-existent company named as Namax Company that would represent the interests of Medgulf in Ghana. The MOU was signed by the 1st accused person wherein he was described as the President of the GFA acting on behalf of Mamax. The signature of the 1st accused person was witnessed to by the 2nd accused person.”
“It was further agreed between TigerEye PI and the accused persons that all monies paid by Medgulf into Ghana would be channelled through Fountain Savings and Loans Limited, a savings and loans company in which the 1st accused person held majority shares. Tiger paid the $65,000 to the 1st accused person as inducement for showing favour to Medgulf as a potential sponsor of the GPL and to provide businesses opportunities for Medgulf in Ghana. Tiger also paid for the cost of the accommodation and travel expenses of both accused persons to and from Dubai.”
“The 1st accused person demanded from Tiger the sum of $12m to influence the award of contracts to Medgulf in Ghana to be distributed in the following manner:
President of Ghana – $5m
Vice President of Ghana – $3m
Minister for Roads and Highways – $2m
Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways – $1m
1st and 2nd accused persons – $1m
“The accused persons made several demands for payment of the $12 million as well as the GPL sponsorship money with the promise to pay Dr. Marzug A. Albadawir, Secretary to Medgulf, $100,000 per year for 3 years as 10% commission on the sponsorship amount and $20,000 as appearance fee.”
“Tiger refused to yield to the demands of the accused persons and lodged a complaint with the police. Following investigations into the matter, the accused persons have been arraigned before this honourable court for trial.”
Kwesi Nyantakyi and Abu plead not guilty
The two accused persons, Kwesi Nyantakyi and Abdulai Alhassan have pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against them in court.
The two were admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢1million with three sureties, one to be justified.
Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi and Abdulai Alhassan are also required to report every Friday at the police CID.
The case has been adjourned to Wednesday, March 25th, 2020 for case management conference.
Anas Aremeyaw Anas Number 12 Exposé
In 2018, award-winning investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger P.I team released an investigative piece detailing the corrupt practices of some members of the Ghana Football Association and some other African countries.
The investigative piece after it was shown caused public outrage making President Akufo-Addo call for the arrest and possible investigations into the allegations the former GFA president made against him and some other top government officials.
The Ghana Football Association was dissolved as a result and a new committee formed to re-structure the organisation.
Fifa bans Kwesi Nyantakyi for life over Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ Number 12 exposé
Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi received a lifetime ban from all football-related activities from the world football governing body, FIFA.
A statement from FIFA announcing the ban read:
“The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has banned Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), for life from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level.”
“The adjudicatory chamber found Mr Nyantakyi guilty of having violated art. 19 (Conflicts of interest), art. 21 (Bribery and corruption) and art. 22 (Commission) of the FIFA Code of Ethics, 2012 edition. As a consequence, Mr Nyantakyi is banned for life from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level. Additionally, a fine in the amount of CHF 500,000 has been imposed on Mr. Nyantakyi.”
Source: George Awiadem Maclean | BieGyaNation.Com
