It seems former GFA President, Kwesi Nyantakyi has never been in the good books of Ghanaians due to the widespread negative perception about him.

In November 2010, the Ghana Football Association received a letter from the Atta Mills-led-government to replace the candidature of the then GFA boss, Kwesi Nyantakyi with former Black Stars skipper, Abedi Pele, for the position of Executive Member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Although major reasons weren't given, it is alleged the move was necessitated due to the corrupt practices of the federation and also because Kwesi Nyantakyi reportedly sponsored an NPP candidate.

Koku Anyidoho, in 2018 during an interview on GhanaWeb's former show, 21 Minutes with KKB, said some NDC bigwigs including former Sports Minister; Nii Lante Vanderpure, Kojo Bonsu and Kojo Twum Boafo were bent on investigating the GFA over corrupt practices.

According to Koku Anyidoho, Kwesi Nyantakyi sought help from John Dramani Mahama who was then the Vice President of Ghana to stop the probe against the federation.

''We thought that we had to look into GFA matters. This business where government is sponsoring football yet we can’t look into their affairs to me is quizzy. There was a typical issue that had to do with Kwesi Nyantakyi and the GFA. And some of us sports enthusiasts like Nii Lante, Kojo Bonsu, Kojo Twum Boafo at the time...We thought that Kwesi Nyantakyi was doing something wrong and having come into power we needed to go into the FA as a government but I think somehow Kwesi Nyantakyi found his way to the Vice President John Mahama and the Vice President had a chat with President Mills. So the president asked us his boys to slow down on Nyantakyi,'' Anyidoho said in the interview.

However, the former GFA President, Kwesi Nyantakyi, resigned in 2018 following a controversial investigative report by Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI team where he was caught on camera allegedly taking bribe.

He also resigned from his positions at WAFU, CAF and FIFA, where he served as a member of the world football governing body’s Executive Council and was later banned from all footballing activities for life.

The Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo on November 7, 2019, in Parliament announced that her outfit is working to present the case involving Kwesi Nyantakyi before court hinting that the legal processes might be initiated in two weeks.

Read the full story originally published on November 11, 2010, on Ghanaweb

The Ghana Football Association has expressed shock at Government’s decision to replace the candidature of GFA Boss, Kwesi Nyantakyi with former Black Stars skipper, Abedi Pele, for the position of Executive Member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Sports Minister Akua Sena Dansua, in a letter, directed that the FA present Abedi’s CV to CAF, after earlier endorsing the candidature of FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi.

This move is a direct interference in the administration of the sport which could draw the fury of Fifa and CAF. This comes few days after the continent’s governing body approved Nyantakyi’s candidature for the post which will be vacant in February 2011.

Several African countries have been banned by Fifa because of forced nominations from governments.

Speaking to Citi News on the latest development, Mr. Randy Abbey, the Spokesperson for the GFA, confirmed that on Tuesday November 2, the Association received a letter from the Sports Ministry stating that Abedi Ayew Pele is Ghana’s nominee for the CAF Executive Committee. He said the letter ordered the Association to take action and report back immediately.

But according to Mr. Abbey, prior to the letter, the Association’s Board had nominated Mr. Nyantakyi for the post three months ago.

“A lot of us before our meeting today were shocked at the turn of events because after the World Cup we received communication from CAF that there were vacancies on the FIFA Executive Committee and also the CAF Executive Committee. The Executive Committee on CAF had to do with Ghana’s zone so the decision of the GFA Executive Committee was that, we should contest the CAF Executive Committee. So the GFA Executive Committee unanimously approved the nomination of Mr. Nyantakyi for that position” he said.

Mr. Abbey said although the GFA is not obliged to seek government’s approval for Mr. Nyantakyi or any other person’s candidature, they found it necessary to inform Government and solicit its support as a major stakeholder in sports. He said Government responded to its letter and pledged support for Mr. Nyantakyi’s candidacy after CAF had approved his nomination.

“And so after going through all these processes and to get a letter out of the blue saying that here is Abedi Pele’s CV and that he is Ghana’s nominee for the same position is not just surprising but also confusing.”

He said it was wrong for Government to have initially approved the nomination of Mr. Nyantakyi and later make a u-turn.

“The power and authority to nominate a candidate for that position is that of the FA so if indeed Government had any such plans there was nothing wrong with engaging the FA to discuss the matter. So how then do you turn around after approving our nominee with a letter to present a new person” he asked.

Asked what the way forward would be in this matter, Mr. Randy Abbey told Citi News that at the end of the FA’s meeting on Thursday November 11, a response has been put together to be presented to Government.

He hinted that the GFA is unable to accede to the directive by the Ministry.

Mr. Randy Abbey ruled out suggestions that Ghana could be sanctioned by FIFA or CAF over the incident.

“I think that at this point, it will be premature to be talking about sanctions but subsequent events on how we deal with this matter is what will determine whether we will get into that situation or not.”