An Accra Court has ruled that world renowned investigative journalist and lawyer, Anas Aremeyaw Anas has to testify in camera without face mask as part of the ongoing case of the state and former Ghana Football Association President, Kwasi Nyantakyi.
Per the ruling, Anas must show his face in chambers anytime he is expected to testify in the criminal case against him by former Ghana Football Association President, Kwasi Nyantakyi.
The former GFA boss is facing charges of fraud and corruption.
These charges stem from offences captured in the Number 12 documentary by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. The documentary allegedly shows Nyantakyi collecting cash and gifts and engaging in influence peddling.
The High Court in Accra had earlier granted an application by the state for Anas to testify in chambers.
Lawyers of Kwesi Nyantakyi however filed a certiorari application at the Supreme Court to quash the decision of the High Court.
The Supreme Court granted the defendant’s application on grounds that the case ought to have been initiated with a formal application and not an oral application.
But when the case was called today, Wednesday, for a ruling on another application on Anas Aremeyaw Anas testifying in camera, the judge granted the application in parts.
The lawyers for Anas, had stated in opposition to the request earlier to the court that the life of the respected journalist would be in danger if he testifies in court without his mask on.
The journalist is currently standing in the stead of Ahmed Suale who was the key witness in the prosecution’s case against Mr Nyantakyi before he was brutally murdered in 2018.
In June 2018, Nyantakyi was captured on film accepting $65,000 in cash from an undercover reporter, who was actually journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The footage was aired by BBC Africa’s investigations unit, Africa Eye in collaboration with Tiger Eye Pi owned by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
Nyantakyi believed the cash to be part of a sponsorship deal for the Ghana FA, an organization he had been presiding over since 2005.
The content of the investigative piece subsequently led to Mr Nyantakyi losing his positions as Member of the FIFA Council and as Vice President for the Confederation of African Football.
