Anas Aremeyaw Anas, an investigative journalist, has denied any knowledge of or complicity in accepting bribes from Kwesi Nyantakyi, the former president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), before the release of a documentary exposing the latter’s purported corrupt activities.
This was in response to accusations made against the journalist by Mr. Nyantakyi in a television interview, who claimed that he had paid Anas $100,000.00 to prevent the publication of the exposé.
The former GFA president and some other football administrators and officials were caught on camera undermining the integrity of the game, according to a video investigation released by Anas in June 2018.
After a first life ban was overturned, Mr. Nyantakyi resigned from all of his positions with the GFA, CAF, and FIFA. He was also given a 15-year football ban.
Nevertheless, the former Vice President of CAF claims that Anas, via his attorneys, was only able to provide $100,000 in response to his demands for $150,000 to end the story.
Mr. Nyantakyi claims that the journalist decided the sum was insufficient, at which point the video was made public.
“I requested a refund after the video was released, and even that was completed in bits and pieces. They would bring $20,000 today and an additional $10,000 tomorrow. They were giving me stories, but eventually I got everything back,” he said.
In a social media statement, Anas refuted the accusations and emphasized that Tiger Eye, his network of investigative journalists, was founded on the fundamental goal of exposing and combating corruption.
In light of the enormous resources and work required to produce such exposés, he said, any idea that he was protecting dishonest people was completely absurd.
The statement reads,
“Tiger Eye P.I. unequivocally asserts that any purported criminal arrangement between Mr. Nyantakyi and any alleged lawyer remains solely between Mr. Nyantakyi and the purported recipient,” it said.
“Tiger Eye P.I. firmly denies any involvement or knowledge of such activities. Should Mr. Nyantakyi’s claims hold substance, we challenge him to pursue legal action against Lawyer Kwame Gyan, including lodging a petition with the General Legal Council, to substantiate his allegations,” it added.
Anas also said that Mr. Nyantakyi, by his admission, was a confessed bribe-giver and a bribe-taker for attempting to bribe his way out of a painstaking investigation into his conduct.
Therefore, per his confessed bribery attempt, he said the former GFA boss had proven that the life ban from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at the national and international level for conflict of interest and bribery offenses provided for by the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE) was justified.
“It is noted that Mr. Nyantakyi appears to be endeavoring to restore his credibility, presumably with aspirations to contest as a parliamentary candidate for the Ejisu constituency under the New Patriotic Party,” the statement said.
“The decision regarding Mr. Nyantakyi’s eligibility rests with the NPP and the constituents of Ejisu. Nonetheless, it’s imperative to emphasize that Tiger Eye P.I. conducted a thorough investigation, leading to Mr. Nyantakyi’s conviction and subsequent ban from football activities due to bribery, and conflict of interest.”
Tiger Eyes remains committed to exposing crimes and graft in Ghana and beyond. it added.
