Former Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi has firmly rejected long standing claims that he once boasted of having the Ghanaian president “in his pocket,” describing the allegation as false, damaging, and deliberately fabricated to tarnish his reputation.
The allegation dates back to the period preceding the release of the explosive investigative documentary Number 12 by renowned journalist , which exposed corruption within Ghanaian football and ultimately brought Nyantakyi’s administration career to an abrupt end. At the time, reports circulated suggesting that Nyantakyi had told an undisclosed investor that his political connections would make it difficult to enter the Ghanaian market without his influence.
Speaking in an interview with , Nyantakyi categorically denied ever making such a statement, stressing that he never claimed to wield political power over the presidency of Ghana.
“I never said the president was in my pocket. I never said that anywhere,” Nyantakyi stated emphatically.
He explained that the allegation had been repeated so widely over the years that it had taken on a life of its own, making it difficult to counter despite the absence of any evidence.
“That allegation has gained so much notoriety that it will be illogical for me to even stand up to contradict it,” he said, highlighting how repetition can sometimes overshadow truth in the court of public opinion.
Nyantakyi further insisted that the claim was entirely fabricated, arguing that it was deliberately designed to damage his standing and credibility in the eyes of the public.
“It was the figment of somebody’s imagination just to discredit me and let me look very bad in the eyes of the public, and they succeeded,” he added.
Before his fall from grace, Nyantakyi was one of the most powerful football administrators on the African continent. In addition to serving as GFA president, he was the First Vice President of the and a member of the Council. His influence within both CAF and FIFA placed him among the elite decision makers shaping football governance in Africa and beyond.
The Number 12 documentary, however, dramatically altered that trajectory. The undercover investigation showed Nyantakyi accepting 65,000 US dollars from an undercover journalist while making claims that suggested he could leverage political influence to facilitate business interests. The footage sparked national outrage, led to sweeping reforms in Ghanaian football, and triggered disciplinary action from global football authorities.
In the aftermath of the documentary’s release, Nyantakyi resigned from his positions at the GFA, CAF, and FIFA in June 2018 amid widespread corruption allegations that rocked the sport. Later that year, FIFA imposed a lifetime ban on him from all football related activities, citing breaches of ethics regulations. That sanction was subsequently reviewed and reduced to a 15 year suspension.
Despite the severity of the consequences, Nyantakyi has continued to dispute aspects of the narrative surrounding his downfall, particularly claims he believes were exaggerated or falsely attributed to him. His latest remarks are part of ongoing efforts to clarify his position on allegations that, in his view, went beyond what was captured in the documentary.
The former football administrator acknowledged that public perception has been difficult to reverse, especially when allegations become deeply embedded in national discourse. Nevertheless, he maintains that certain claims, including the suggestion that he had former President “in his pocket,” are completely untrue and unsupported by evidence.
Nyantakyi’s comments have reignited debate around the Number 12 investigation and its long term impact on Ghanaian football, governance, and accountability. While many credit the documentary with exposing deep rooted corruption and prompting reform, others continue to discuss the personal and professional cost to those involved.
As Ghanaian football continues to rebuild under new administrative structures, Nyantakyi’s story remains one of the most significant and controversial chapters in the sport’s history. His firm denial of the political influence claim adds another layer to an already complex narrative that continues to shape conversations about power, perception, and justice in African football administration.
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