On 7th June exactly at 3pm, the technician
pressed play the latest documentary produced by Ghana’s investigative
journalist Anas Aremyaw Anas and his team from Tiger Eye PI titled Number 12.
That day was the second day of a two-day Accra premiering of the Number 12
documentary which was said to reveal corruption in the Ghana Football
Association and among referees. Upon reaching the Accra International
Conference Centre to a rather small number of people compared to news I heard
about a large number of people trooping the AICC to watch the documentary, I
stood in a short queue for about 3 minutes, got checked at 3 different security
checkpoints and then finally allowed into the auditorium. There stood a giant
screen in the dark looking auditorium almost full to capacity. In a matter of
seconds while I peep around to find an empty seat, a lady usher got closer and
offered that I follow her to an empty seat. While we walk to my seat, I heard a
voice ask everyone to stand up in respect to the sound of the National Anthem.
After the anthem, I hurriedly sat down in the seat the usher asked me to; then
the documentary began.
A lot of thoughts about corruption, Ghana and Anas began
running through my mind. Then I woke myself from the thoughts with the mindset
that I needed to concentrate on the documentary since I will be writing a piece
on it.
A little over an hour and the documentary came to the end. I
stepped out of the auditorium and to my amazement; I saw a long queue at the
entrance of the AICC being taken through the same security checks like they did
to me. Outside the main gate on the street were also a large number of people
waiting to be allowed inside the AICC compound in order to join the queue. Then
I realized that I witnessed a short queue when entering at 3pm because a lot of
viewers had not closed from work.
I will not go back narrating excerpts of the documentary
into details. In this article, I intend to deliver my opinion on why I think
Kwesi Nyantakyi will not be prosecuted for his alleged corrupt acts nor will
any of the referees caught cheating will go to jail. The best is to have them
loose their position in the football fraternity.
In my previous article titled “CONSEQUENCES OF NUMBER 12
DOCUMENTARY – KWESI NYANTAKYI CAN SURVIVE THIS; PART 1” which I promised to
write a continuation for reason I am writing this, I made known the notion that
some Ghanaians are of the view that Kwesi Nyantakyi (the bigger fish in the
entire documentary) will be prosecuted and jailed for his actions captured in
the video. Sincerely, I would have loved to see Kwesi Nyantakyi serve some jail
term as deterrent to other heads of institutions that are or may be meddling in
corruption but the realities in my medulla oblongata are not allowing me to
believe that my wish can manifest.
Let’s face it. Kwesi Nyantakyi is a big fish! He is a top
official that can be compared to other top officials in Ghana. His 13 year
reign as President of the Ghana Football Association makes him one most
powerful state official in Ghana.
In the beginning of my previous article, I mentioned that
some friends who I was having an argument with stated that former Chief
Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and renowned Lawyer
Tsatsu Tsikata was a big fish but got jailed five years by the then NPP/Kuffuor
Administration for willfully causing financial loss to the State and
misapplying public property. Thus in as much as Kwesi Nyantakyi can be termed
as a big fish in state affairs of Ghana, he can equally be jailed just as
Tsatsu Tsikata. But I beg to differ, even though Mr. Tsikata’s allegations of
corruption were not captured on tape like that of Kwesi Nyantakyi, a reason
someone will believe that the magnitude of Mr. Nyantakyi’s woes will enable the
courts serve him a jail term, I am of the view that even though the magnitude
of crime may differ, Kwesi Nyantakyi will not be jailed. This is because Kwesi
Nyantakyi is a bigger fish than Tsatsu Tsikata. The like of Tsatsu Tsikata who
is known to be a member of the NDC is likely to be thrown in jail for the sake
of partisan politicking. But the Kwesi Nyantakyi position is different; Kwesi
Nyantakyi is not widely known to be a member of a particular political party in
Ghana. He has served as President of the Ghana Football Association under the
regime of both ruling political parties; meaning he has worked and dealt with
officials of both NPP and NDC. This variable alone plays a big role in the
prosecution discussion of Kwesi Nyantakyi. (Let me remind ourselves that there
have been officials caught and alleged to meddle in corruption but did not get
to see the gates of Nsawam prison but rather get sacked, transferred or
pardoned). Thus the bottom line which is the possibility of Kwesi Nyantakyi not
getting jailed for the mere reason for which those other corrupt officials did
not get jailed plays a big role. Meaning Kwesi Nyantakyi’s corruption
allegation case will not be treated with partisan politicking as its base.
Going by the now known ‘character’ of Kwesi Nyantakyi which
is a corrupt leader who takes bribe from prospective investors, I can deduce
that over the years till now, Kwesi Nyantakyi in his dubious acts committed the
crime with officials of both NDC and NPP. This phenomenon also makes the
prosecution of Kwesi Nyantakyi a dicey one. Already I have heard unconfirmed
news in the media that Mr. Nyantakyi after the call for his arrest threatened
to reveal secrets if pressured; one of the reasons he was bailed and never been
invited since. If this assertion is true, then it means even the sitting
government will be scared to spearhead the call for Mr. Nyantakyi’s prosecution
while the Minority will also not be able to push for the head of Mr. Nyantakyi
for fear that some of their officials will be named in the revelations. (Again
considering the unconfirmed news that Mr. Nyantakyi at a point in time financed
the campaign activities of both NPP and NDC).
Notwithstanding, the strong variable of claiming Anas’ video
is not credible and qualified enough to trigger prosecution and jailing of Mr.
Nyantakyi must be considered. Aside listening to Mr. Nyantakyi who is a lawyer
himself make comments about the video where he tried to use words like ‘scammers’
to describe team Tiger coupled with other legal words with the notion to punch
holes into the documentary as a tool for his prosecution, other renowned
Lawyers are making similar statements geared toward arguments that are against
the jailing of Mr. Nyantakyi. Even though I have heard counter arguments from
Lawyers and legal practitioners supporting the prosecution of Kwesi Nyantakyi,
I am of the view that those against his jailing are coming with a big force.
There has been quoting of articles in the Constitution of Ghana by legal
practitioners and learned commentators on the saga debunking the validity and
legality of Tiger Eye PI’s documentary as a benchmark to jail Mr. Nyantakyi. As
a lay man but with the IQ to rap my mind around legal matters, I think those
lawyers trying to argue in favor of Kwesi Nyantakyi are doing so fiercely; an
argument they can win, thus not seeing Kwesi Nyantakyi face the court entirely
or even when dragged to the law court will not get jailed.
Nevertheless, the hullabaloo, ranting and allegations made
by NPP MP Kennedy Agyapong can ruin the situation and save Kwesi Nyantakyi from
getting jailed. The tough-talking politician is threatening to reveal pictures
and videos of some corrupt deeds that the investigative journalist and main
producer of the Number 12 documentary; Anas Aremyaw Anas have been meddling in.
Whether these allegations are true or false is another matter to discuss. But
this rant and allegations must not be swept under the carpet. Mr. Agyapong
succeeding in denting the image of Anas can ruin the situation where most
Ghanaians will lose interest in rallying behind those calling for Mr.
Nyantakyi’s prosecution. Though Anas have not said on any platform that he is
holy and do not commit any wrongs, most Ghanaians see him as Mr. Right. So
having someone ruin down his earned reputation is a disadvantage to the fight
for Mr. Nyantakyi’s prosecution.
Another reason that I think can make Kwesi Nyantakyi skip
jail is the funny but sincere attitude of some top Ghanaian leaders. A typical
is what we have already seen a Northern Chief do; pleading on behalf of Mr.
Nyatakyi that his sins be forgiven. Begging for a corrupt official to me is one
lame attitude someone can put up but we have on many occasions see this in our
country. If not begging, we have witnessed people rally behind alleged corrupt
officials. Typical of this is what some Ghanaians in the hometown of former
COCOBOD boss Stephen Opuni are doing and those who rallied behind former
National Health Insurance Scheme boss Sylvester Mensah amid corruption
allegations. So pleading on behalf of ‘corrupt’ officials is not a new
phenomenon in Ghana which on some occasions has prevented the fellow from
getting punished or jailed.
I can go on and on about reasons why I am of the view that
the embattled former GFA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi will not be jailed. I do not know
if Tiger Eye PI knew that the probability of Mr. Nyantakyi getting jailed as a
result of this documentary was less. I am sure they knew but the wider agenda of
booting out corrupt ‘football people’ and to have an iota of evidence proving
the long standing argument and allegation of a corrupt GFA will be achieved. Thus
getting the boss plus some officials resigns and sacked like we have begun
witnessing in the Association.
Thank you for reading. Please do not hesitate to share your
views, comments and contributions.
Another reality from my Medulla Oblongata.
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