The case of the former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwasi Nyantakyi, has been adjourned for three months, extending to the new legal year of 2024/2025.
The current legal year ends on July 31, and the case is scheduled to be called again on October 16, 2024, which falls on the second weekend of the new legal year.
Kwasi Nyantakyi is facing charges of fraud by agent and corruption related to his involvement in Anas Aremeyaw Anas’s “#Number 12 exposé.” Alongside him, Abdulai Alhassan, the former Northern Regional GFA boss and second accused, is also facing an additional charge of conspiracy to commit fraud. Both have pleaded not guilty.
When the case was last called on June 10, 2024, Justice Marie-Louise Simmons stated that the High Court would wait for the Court of Appeal’s decisions before proceeding with Nyantakyi’s trial. She emphasized that it would be inappropriate to continue the trial while the matter is before the Court of Appeal.
On July 10, when the parties were expected to update the Court on the appeal, the Court did not sit. Both Nyantakyi and Alhassan, along with their lawyers, were present. The case has now been adjourned to October 16, 2024.
EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, reported that the prosecution’s appeal processes to challenge the High Court’s order for Anas Aremeyaw Anas to unmask himself to the accused persons are ready. Hearing notices will be sent to the parties to appear.
Pending appeals
The High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice Marie-Louise Simmons, is awaiting the outcomes of two pending appeals filed at the Court of Appeal.
One appeal is from the prosecution regarding the High Court’s order for investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas to unmask himself to Nyantakyi in chambers before testifying in open court while masked. The other appeal is from Nyantakyi’s lawyers.
Justice Simmons had previously stated, “If by April, no meaningful steps have been taken, Nyantakyi will be discharged.”
However, this did not happen, and the Court is now awaiting the outcomes of the appeals filed by the parties.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Murtala Inusah
