By Sarah Baafi
In a landmark ruling delivered on January 30, 2025, the Court of Appeal has ordered investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas to testify without his trademark mask in the ongoing corruption trial involving former Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Kwesi Nyantakyi. The decision marks a pivotal moment in the high-profile case that has gripped the nation since the release of Anas’ 2018 exposé, Number 12.
The three-member panel, chaired by Justice Ackaah Boafo, alongside Justice Anthony Oppong and Justice Aboagye Tandoh, emphasized the importance of upholding the constitutional right of the accused to a fair trial. Delivering the ruling, Justice Ackaah Boafo stated,
“The principle of natural justice demands that an accused person must have the opportunity to see and confront their accuser. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. To allow Anas to testify in disguise would undermine this fundamental right.”
The court further criticized the earlier High Court decision that permitted Anas to testify while concealing his identity, describing it as a breach of established legal principles. Justice Boafo added:
“The High Court erred in its judgment by disregarding binding precedents set by the Supreme Court. The law is clear—no one is above its reach.”
The ruling comes as a blow to Anas and his legal team, who had argued that testifying unmasked could expose him to significant personal risk, given his history of undercover investigations into corruption and organized crime. However, the court maintained that any concerns for his safety could be addressed through other protective measures that do not infringe on Nyantakyi’s rights.
Legal experts have described this ruling as a critical test for Ghana’s judicial system, balancing witness protection with the rights of defendants. The public now eagerly awaits Anas’ testimony, which is expected to shed light on one of Ghana’s most significant corruption scandals in recent history.
