The Court of Appeal has ruled that investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas must testify in open court without his trademark mask in the ongoing case of Republic v. Kwesi Nyantakyi.
In a unanimous decision on Thursday, January 30, 2025, Justices Anthony Oppong, Ackaah Boafo, and Aboagye Tandoh determined that Anas cannot conceal his identity while testifying.
Justice Ackaah Boafo, delivering the ruling, stated that the constitutional right of the accused to a fair trial outweighs the witness protection concerns raised by the state.
The court also criticized the High Court’s decision to reconsider a state request for Anas to testify in disguise, ruling that a previous Supreme Court decision on the matter was binding.
This means that Anas, known for his undercover investigative work, must appear in court without his signature hood while testifying in the case against former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kwesi Nyantakyi.
The former GFA president faces charges stemming from Anas’ 2018 documentary titled “Number 12,” which exposed alleged corruption in Ghanaian football.
Following the release of the documentary, Nyantakyi lost all his football roles, including his positions on the FIFA Executive Council and as CAF Vice President.
He was initially banned for life by FIFA, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later reduced the ban to 15 years.
