Number 12: The High Court discharges Kwesi Nyantakyi after a five-year trial.

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kwesi Nyantakyi, and his co-accused have been formally discharged by an Accra High Court, concluding a legal case that lasted for over five years.

The ruling, handed down by Her Ladyship Justice Marie-Louise Simmonds on Thursday, came after the prosecution failed to present any witnesses during the trial. Despite naming five potential witnesses, none were called to the stand to testify.

Further complicating the case, the prosecution’s last-minute witness sought to testify wearing a mask, a request that the court deemed unusual and raised concerns. In the absence of any evidence, the case was deemed unable to continue.

A pivotal moment in the case was the Court of Appeal’s January 30, 2025 ruling, which stressed the importance of a fair trial conducted within a reasonable time frame. This ruling ultimately played a key role in the High Court’s decision to discharge the accused.

The legal proceedings were initiated after an exposé by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, which rocked the Ghanaian football community and led to Nyantakyi’s resignation in 2018.