Former Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi has reiterated that he holds no personal bitterness toward investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, despite the events that led to the abrupt end of his football administration career.
Speaking in a reflective interview on , Nyantakyi stressed that he neither has the power nor the intention to seek revenge over the Number 12 documentary, which shook Ghanaian football and triggered sweeping reforms across the sport. Instead, he said he has chosen a path of faith, restraint, and personal peace, leaving all matters of judgment in the hands of God.
“I don’t have any grudge. I can’t do anything to him. I don’t have the power to do anything to him,” Nyantakyi said. “I leave it to God. If there is a day of judgment, which I believe there is, it will be an interesting day for all of us to present our cases before the Almighty.”
His comments struck a calm and measured tone, reflecting a man who appears determined to move beyond prolonged public confrontation. For Nyantakyi, the focus now seems to be on inner peace rather than engaging in disputes that have defined public discourse around his name since 2018.
Before his dramatic exit from football administration, Nyantakyi was widely regarded as one of the most influential African football administrators of his generation. He served as president of the GFA, First Vice President of the , and a member of the Council. His rise through these ranks placed him at the very heart of football governance on both the continental and global stages.
During that period, Ghana enjoyed significant visibility within African football administration, and Nyantakyi’s leadership was seen by many observers as a symbol of the country’s growing influence in global sports governance. His proximity to the highest decision-making bodies in world football also positioned him as one of the most powerful figures the country had produced in sports administration.
That trajectory, however, was brought to a sudden halt in 2018 following the release of the Number 12 investigative documentary by Anas Aremeyaw Anas. The exposé sent shockwaves through Ghanaian football, leading to the dissolution of the GFA at the time and ushering in a new era of governance reforms. Amid widespread allegations and public outrage, Nyantakyi resigned from his roles at the GFA, CAF, and FIFA.
Despite the life-altering consequences of those events, Nyantakyi insists he has chosen not to personalise the fallout. His decision, he says, is rooted in his belief that ultimate justice is divine and not something to be pursued through personal vendettas.
In the same interview, Nyantakyi also addressed another long-standing allegation that has followed him for years, the claim that he once stated he had former President “in his pocket.”
Nyantakyi categorically denied ever making such a remark, describing the allegation as false, baseless, and deliberately damaging.
“I never said that. I never said it anywhere,” he insisted, issuing a direct challenge to journalists and critics to produce evidence. “Within one day, before the end of today, produce evidence that I said the president was in my pocket. You are journalists. Prove it.”
According to him, the claim was a fabrication designed to discredit him and erode public trust in his leadership. He argued that the allegation gained traction not because it was true, but because it was repeatedly circulated, eventually becoming accepted by some as fact.
“If you can’t produce evidence, then it was simply the figment of someone’s imagination to discredit me and make me look bad in the eyes of the public,” Nyantakyi added.
He acknowledged that once such narratives gain momentum, they become extremely difficult to counter, even when unsupported by facts. Nevertheless, Nyantakyi maintained that truth remains constant, regardless of how widely misinformation spreads.
The former football administrator also reflected on the long-term impact of the allegations on his personal and professional life. While acknowledging the pain and reputational damage caused, he said he has learned to live with the reality, choosing dignity and faith over public confrontation.
In October 2018, FIFA imposed a lifetime ban on Nyantakyi from all football-related activities, citing breaches of ethics rules. The sanction was later reviewed and reduced to a 15-year suspension, a development that slightly eased the severity of the punishment but did little to reverse the overall impact on his career.
Nyantakyi’s recent remarks come at a time when conversations around accountability, ethics, and reform continue to shape African and global football governance. His reflections offer insight into the human cost of high-profile controversies and the complexities surrounding leadership at the highest levels of sport.
For many observers, Nyantakyi’s story remains one of both achievement and controversy, a reminder of how swiftly fortunes can change in public life. His decision to publicly state that he bears no grudges and harbours no desire for revenge presents a narrative of restraint, faith, and personal reconciliation.
As Ghanaian football continues to evolve under new leadership structures, Nyantakyi’s reflections serve as a sobering chapter in the sport’s history, underscoring the importance of integrity, transparency, and measured judgment in positions of great responsibility.
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