Nyantakyi’s integrity almost irredeemable - Kweku Baako

Editor in-chief of The New Crusading Guide, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, says embattled President of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, will have a hard time restoring his reputation and integrity after the June 6 premier of Anas Aremyaw Anas’ investigative piece titled ‘Number 12’.

Speaking on Joy FM’s current affairs programme Newsfile over the weekend, Kweku Baako said he was hurt that Nyantakyi, who he admires and respects very much, has been caught in such a quagmire.

“I am very hurt I have to tell you, I admire Kwesi Nyatakyi a lot. Even when he was facing all his challenges at the FA I have always backed him so I am not happy this is happening to him.”

Asked by Newsfile host, Samson Lardy Anyenini if Nyantakyi’s career is finished, Baako replied “as far as his integrity is concerned, it is almost irredeemable.”

Nyantakyi who has been President of the Ghana Football Association for the last 13 years, is facing arguably the most tumultuous times of his stewardship after being accused of defrauding by false pretenses and influence peddling.

Exactly a week ago today, Nyantakyi who was out of the country at the time was declared wanted after it emerged that the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi had allegedly used the name of Ghana president Nana Akufo-Addo negatively, in a yet-to-be-aired documentary by ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo thus ordered the CID to interrogate the President of the Ghana Football Association for defrauding by false pretense and influence peddling after he watched a portion of the video documentary by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, in which Mr Nyantakyi is captured telling some investors how much they should pay if they wanted to gain

The move by the President to have Mr Nyantakyi investigated was made public by the deputy Chief of Staff, Abu Jinapor who stated “The president takes a serious view of this and believes it is a case of criminal conduct. Kwesi Nyantakyi was supposedly seen attempting to use the President’s name and that of the Vice President and other senior members of government to induce supposed potential investors into the country to part with various sums of monies”.

He noted that President Akufo-Addo “evaluated and consulted” after viewing the documentary stated that a prima facie case has been established against the GFA boss which warrants “a full criminal investigation into the conduct of GFA boss and any other accomplices that may exist”.

Nyantakyi has since been questioned by the Police CID and is said to be cooperating in the investigations.

The have been calls in some quarters for Nyantakyi who doubles as the first Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and a FIFA Executive Council Member to resign or step aside but the GFA Executive Committee, last Thursday released a statement, stating that they are behind their leader and he still remains president of the Association.