Ghana Football Association president, Kwesi Nyantakyi has received a provisional ban of 90 days from Fifa on Friday, pending the outcome of an Ethics Committee investigation.
Nyantakyi, the leader of Ghana football since 2005, serving as current 1st Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) and as a Fifa Council member, is also suspended from all soccer-related activities, apparently disqualifying him from any role at the upcoming 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Fifa, in a statement Friday June 8, 2018, said:
“The chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee has provisionally banned the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Fifa Council member, Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, for a duration of 90 days.
“The duration of the ban may be extended for an additional period not exceeding 45 days.
“During this time, Mr Nyantakyi is banned from all football activities at both national and international level (administrative, sports or any other). The ban comes into force immediately.
“The decision was taken upon the request of the chairperson of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee carrying out the formal investigation proceedings into Mr Nyantakyi, pursuant to art. 83 par. 1 and art. 84 par. 2 of the Fifa Code of Ethics.”
Beleaguered Nyantakyi
The ban comes after the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday announced taking steps to dissolve the country’s football governing body after evidence of corruption was exposed in an investigative video by renowned journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
Over 70 professional referees and officials of the GFA were caught on tape receiving bribes to rig games and influence the selection of players into the Ghana national teams.
Nyantakyi also got himself involved in a dubious sponsorship deal with supposed investors and demanded close to $15 million to grease the palms of senior government officials to court favours for the sponsors against the code of the GFA, Caf and Fifa.
He was also recorded proposing to set up a personal agency to receive between 20-25% commission on a supposed $15 million sponsorship for the Ghana Premier League
After screening the damaging undercover video, Ghana’s government announced plans to dissolve the GFA, despite a possible Fifa ban.
