More troubles for Kwesi Nyantakyi
It is clear that the troubles of the embattled former president of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi are not ending any anytime soon as all banks in the county as well as non-bank financial institutions have been asked to furnish the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) with specific information.
The financial institutions are also requested to provide the same information on GFA.
The Financial Intelligence Centre, established to protect the economy and particularly the financial integrity of Ghana, suspected that Mr. Nyantakyi may have been involved in money laundering following the exposé into endemic corruption in football administration by controversial journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
Chief Executive Officer of the Centre, Kwaku Dua, in a letter dated June 11, 2018 to the banks stated: “Pursuant to Section 28 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2008 (Act 749), as amended, kindly furnish us with the following information on subjects and any other connected accounts: Mandate and Account opening forms, Business Registration Document, Legible copy of photo identity, Evidence of Know Your Customer (KYC) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD), all transaction details (bank statement) from January 2014 to date, copies of all SWIFT Messages received for the same period (if any) and copies of Verification of Beneficiary Owners form completed in respect of transfers”.
The financial institutions were asked to send soft copy of the requested documents to the Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Intelligence Centre by close of work today, Thursday, June 14, 2018. Meanwhile, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has petitioned the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Ernest Addison; the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Gloria Akufo; Financial Intelligence Centre and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) , to institute a full scale investigation into activities of Mr Nyantakyi.
Anas wants the probe to focus largely on Mr. Nyantakyi’s stewardship of the GFA and Fountains Savings and Loans Ltd.
The investigative journalist also wants Mr. Nyantakyi to be investigated over some money laundering claims he made in his latest investigative documentary titled #Number12.
In the investigative film which has so far been watched by over 8,000 Ghanaians, the former FA boss was seen suggesting to a supposed potential foreign investor, how a supposed league sponsorship money could be sent through his [Nyantakyi’s] savings and loans company.
Mr. Nyantakyi made this disclosure when he was explaining to the potential investors that the amount involved in the deal was too huge and so could not be wired through his personal account.
Anas is also asking all the bodies he had petitioned to also probe Mr. Nyantaky for “bribery, corruption and fraud by false presence by abusing his office.”
Kwesi Nyantakyi,who recently resigned as President of the GFA was caught on tape plotting to fleece the FA of sponsorship money while promising supposed investors access to President Akufo Addo for a fee.
He even went ahead to outline a blue print laden with details on how to bribe politicians in strategic positions in a bid to gain control of key projects within the country.
The State had filed a petition to have the GFA dissolved as well as a ten-day interim injunction to enable the State prepare adequately to deal with the rot at the GFA following revelations from the documentary.
Meanwhile the government has put together a 5-member committee to manage the nation’s football after the High Court granted a 10-day injunction on the activities of the Association.
According to a statement signed by Information Minister, Dr Mustapha Hamid , the committee will oversee the “administration of football and other related matters” in the country while more permanent measures are worked to sanitise the local game.
The formation of the committee is the latest of government’s reactions to the expose done on corruption in football in Ghana by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The members of the committee are Dr. Kofi Amoah, who is the chairperson, Cudjoe Fianoo, Chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), Abedi Pele, former Black Stars skipper, Rev Osei Kofi, former Black Stars and Asante Kotoko player, and Eva Okyere, former sports journalist.
The statement added that the it would keep engaging FIFA and CAF on the way forward for Ghana football after the revelations in the Anas tape.
