Kwesi Nyantakyi Cleared Of Match-Fixing Allegations

The GFA Ethics Committee has exonerated Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the Association in the matter of the allegation of attempted match fixing by some officials of the Ghana Football Association. It followed articles published by UK newspaper 'The Telegraph' between 22-24 June 2014 and the airing of the Dispatches programme �How to fix a football match� on Channel Four on 23 June 2014 that made claims of an alleged case of match manipulation linked to the organisation of international friendly matches involving Ghana�s national team. The Ethics Committee, however says it is necessary to conduct further investigations in the matter as it relates to Obed Nana Kwame Nketiah and Mr. Christopher Forsythe, two other people involved in the matter. During its investigations, the Ethics Committee chaired by Nana Adjei Ampofo heard: - Oral evidence given by Obed Nana Kwame Nketiah, Mr. Christopher Forsythe and Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi. - Written statements produced by FIFA�s Investigatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee and also by Obed Nana Kwame Nketiah, Mr. Christopher Forsythe and Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi. - Video/audio evidence presented by the Investigatory Chamber of FIFA - Correspondences between Channel 4 Dispatch and the Daily Telegraph on the one hand and Obed Nana Kwame Nketiah, Mr. Christopher Forsythe and Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi. According to the ruling, both Mr. Nketiah and Mr. Forsythe in answers to questions confirmed that they did not inform Mr. Nyantakyi about their meetings and discussions with UK based company, Diamond Capital Management (DCM),who were desirous of doing business with the GFA in the organization of International friendly matches for the Ghana National Team on a long term basis. In their testimony before the Committee, they only told Mr. Nyantakyi about the company�s interest in organizing International Friendly matches for the National Teams and that he Mr. Nyantakyi had no knowledge of the wider dynamics involved. After reviewing all the evidence before it, the Ethics Committee stated that: "Considering the evidence before us, we are of the view that Mr. Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association did nothing untoward in the alleged match fixing arrangement," a statement by the Ethics Committee said. "We accordingly absolve him of any attempt or preparation to do any match fixing or of any improper conduct." On the both, Mr. Nketiah and Mr. Forsythe, the Ethics Committee stated that: "We, on the other hand, find a lot of questions and issues which need to be answered or explained by both Mr. Nketiah and Mr. Forsythe. Their roles and suggestions in discussions with the said Diamond Capital Management (DCM) officials and other related issues required further investigation. "We have received a copy of a letter written by one lawyer Tuah Yeboah in which he alleges that his clients, Mr. Nketiah and Mr. Forsythe were only feigning interest; and another letter by a lawyer called Edward K. Oppong in which he denies any improper conducts on the part of his clients. "We think that, for these reasons, it is necessary to conduct further investigations in the matter as it relates to Mr. Nketiah and Mr. Forsythe. We will accordingly give them an opportunity to appear before us again with their lawyers (if they so wishes) to explain the issues and answer questions."