“I Paid Aremeyaw Anas $100,000 Not to Release the Number 12 Exposé but he Demanded $150,000” – Kwesi Nyantakyi

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, has made a startling revelation regarding his dealings with investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Nyantakyi disclosed that he paid Anas a sum of $100,000 to prevent the release of the controversial “Number 12” exposé.

Nyantakyi claimed that Anas’ lawyers initially demanded $150,000 to drop the documentary but later informed him that his payment of $100,000 was insufficient. Despite his efforts to prevent the premiere of the exposé, Anas went ahead with the release. Nyantakyi then demanded a refund, which was eventually paid in instalments.

The former GFA president recounted the events, stating, “Before the video was released, his lawyers reached out to me through a certain Kwame Gyan, a lecturer at Legon. I met him at his residence around Westland and gave them the money. But they told me the amount was inadequate and later went ahead to release the video. After the video came out, I asked for a refund and even the refund was done in pieces. Today, they would bring $20,000, the next day another $10,000. They were giving me stories, but eventually I got everything back.”

Nyantakyi’s involvement in the “Number 12” exposé led to his resignation as GFA President and his subsequent banning from football-related activities by FIFA. Despite his lifetime ban being reduced to 15 years following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Nyantakyi’s reputation suffered a significant blow due to the exposé.

The disclosure by Nyantakyi has once again brought to light the controversial nature of the “Number 12” exposé and raises questions about the ethics of investigative journalism in Ghana.