Hardworking Nyantakyi would have become FIFA President – Nyaho Tamakloe

Former Ghana Football Association President Dr Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe has disclosed he believed strongly that had it not been for the setbacks experienced now, embattled former GFA President Kwesi Nyantekyi was set to be the first black president of FIFA.

Dr Nyaho Tamakloe under whose presidency Kwesi Nyantekyi served as Vice President described his former assistant as a hardworking person who had the potential to reach the highest position in world football governance.

He added considering the height Kwesi Nyantekyi had attained in world football, he is disappointed at the sequence of events.

Football governing body FIFA found the former Ghana FA president and FIFA Council member guilty of having violated Article 19 (Conflict of interest), Article 21 (Bribery and Corruption) and Article 22 (Commission) of the FIFA Code of Ethics, 2012 edition.

This follows an evidence presented by ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas of an undercover investigative documentary titled Number 12.

The consequence of the FIFA’s decision Dr Nyaho Tamakloe asserted will transcend generations and has the potential to affect the chances of a Ghanaian attaining the level the former Ghanaian football administrator achieved.

“Kwesi has moved beyond that. He has gone that far. He is even a member of FIFA Council. This is something we haven’t seen for years, not even during the time of Ohene Djan. For such a person to be kicked out, it is a big blot for the country and for progress of football in the country vis-a-vis Africa and for that matter world level. This is where my worry is. Maybe a certain Ghanaian may be good, may get to a certain level and during election, all these problems will be picked up again and that particular individual will not climb high. For me he is a man who had the opportunity of maybe becoming an African President of FIFA. I believe strongly he was heading that way then all of a sudden he drops to the bottom. This is why I am worried” he explained in an interview.

Prosecute Nyantakyi – Nyaho-Tamakloe

Dr Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe is also mounting pressure on government to prosecute the former football administrator just as FIFA has done.

He explained that the details of the alleged acts are still scanty in the public domain and not until government begins criminal proceedings against him Ghanaians may not know if he is guilty or innocent.

FIFA has banned Kwesi Nyantekyi from all footballing activities and administration for life and fined him GHC2.4 million after finding him guilty.

Dr Nyaho Tamakloe on that score tasked government to also immediately prosecute the former FIFA Council member to bring clarity to the matter domestically.

“The onus is now on the government of Ghana in the sense that they have to try Kwesi Nyantakyi because the government had him arrested, and he made statements concerning this particular problem and I think it is the duty of the government of Ghana now to try Kwesi Nyantakyi to find out whether he is guilty or not. So, this is how I look at the whole thing so far,” he proposed.

Nyantakyi life ban ‘bad for Ghana, Africa’ – Nyaho-Tamakloe

Speaking on the impact this will have on the country as a whole, Dr Nyaho Tamakloe did not mince words in expressing himself.

He emphasised what impact it has on Ghana football brand within the footballing circles and the former Ghana FA president himself.

“It’s an unfortunate development, very unfortunate. I personally feel very disturbed about it. However, they have sat down as a world football body, went through the whole process and I believe they felt this is the way the decision should be,” the former Kwesi Nyantekyi boss declared.

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe added that, “What has happened is very bad for Ghana football in particular and African football in general in the sense that Kwesi Nyantakyi to me is a very hard-working man and he’s been able to reach that high in both CAF and FIFA levels, and for that matter, no Ghanaian got to that level and he had the potential of becoming FIFA boss in future, so, how this came about beats my imagination.”