Supreme Court to hear Nyantakyi’s motion against Anas’ In-camera testimony

The Supreme Court of Ghana will today, May 24, 2022 hear a motion filed by a former President of the Ghana Football Association, Kwasi Nyantakyi against an order of the High Court permitting ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas to testify in-camera.

In an application dated April 29, 2022, Mr Nyantakyi describes the decision as ‘erroneous’ thus seeking the apex court to quash the same.

It states further that per an oral application to the court in March, the Republic requested the CEO of the Tiger Eye PI, who is the principal witness in the matter, to be heard in-camera.

He states however that this was vehemently opposed by his side noting that the High court had allowed the prayer of the Republic without recourse to the facts and grounds and without a formal application being made to that effect.

It adds further that the reasons for which the prosecution made the in-camera prayer to the court was unclear because he believes that a formal application would have offered his side an opportunity to know why the Republic wants the witness to testify in-camera.

This objection was however ignored by the High Court culminating into this motion invoking the apex court’s jurisdiction and seeking Anas Aremeyaw Anas to testify in open court and not in-camera.

Moreover the application states that per the Constitution of Ghana, court hearings are required to be done public thus the High Court’s order is erroneous irrespective of the fact that adjudicating authorities may at times order for the conduct of proceedings from the purview of the public in the interest of public morality, order and safety.

Additionally, Mr Nyantakyi notes the public interest will be better served if Anas is rather made by the Supreme Court to testify in open court adding that the “Number 12” expose for which he is in court, was premiered in the public interest by Tiger Eye PI.

In March 2021,Mr Kwasi Kwasi Nyantakyi was discharged by the High Court(Criminal Court Division 4) presided over by Justice Comfort Tasiame  because the case had been adjourned for more than a year.

However, the Republic proceeded to the High Court  on March 24, 2021 to have the case heard afresh.

Subsequent to this, there was a disagreement on the part of the accused as to appropriate court to try his case culminating in an application against the Republic’s decision to go to Criminal Court. He insisted that the case be taken back to Criminal Court 4.

This was however settled on June 7, 2021 by Justice Elfreda A Dankyi  when she ruled that the case be heard in her court.

Background

Former 1st Vice President of CAF, Kwasi Nyantakyi is standing trial with Abdullai Alhassan who are facing three charges; fraud, con spiracy to commit fraud and fraud for their roles in the Number 12 documentary.