'It was a bad decision' - Nyantakyi on Disciplinary Committee ruling on Tema Youth - Dreams FC player identity saga

Kwesi Nyantakyi, former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), criticized a ruling by the Disciplinary Committee. This ruling involved Dreams FC and Tema Youth FC in the case of Cudjoe Mensah and Daniel Gozar. Nyantakyi called it a “bad decision” that harmed the GFA's reputation.

The case was heard in 2015 by Prosper Harrison Addo, now GFA General Secretary. The committee banned the player from football but did not sanction Dreams FC. Later investigations revealed that Dreams FC changed the player's identity from Daniel Gozar to Cudjoe Mensah.

Tema Youth appealed this ruling to the Appeals Committee, but their appeal was rejected on November 5, 2015. This outcome caused public outrage and claims of bias. Subsequently, Tema Youth took their case to CAS on July 13, 2016.

CAS directed the FA to form a new committee to review the matter. The new committee demoted Dreams FC to Division One and replaced them with Tema Youth for the 2017/18 Ghana Premier League season.

In his first public comments since 2016, Nyantakyi spoke with Muftawu Nabila Abdulai about this issue. He denied any involvement in the case and criticized the original ruling as flawed.

Nyantakyi stated he had no knowledge of the details surrounding Cudjoe Mensah/Daniel Gozar's case. He mentioned hearing rumors that he influenced the Disciplinary Committee’s decision but insisted he did not manipulate anything.

“I didn’t even understand the case,” he said. “I only knew there was a case at the Disciplinary Committee.” He emphasized his good relationship with Wilfred Kwaku Osei Palmer but denied trying to influence any decisions at FA.

Nyantakyi acknowledged that while many GFA members are connected to clubs, independent judicial committees were created during his tenure. He believed these committees helped reduce allegations of favoritism within decisions made by club-affiliated members.

He noted that even independent bodies can make mistakes, similar to regular court systems in Ghana. “Mistakes happen sometimes,” he explained, referring to how higher courts can correct errors made by lower courts.

Nyantakyi cited a famous Supreme Court case from 1961 as an example of judicial error being corrected later on. He concluded that once a decision is made by any court or committee, it stands until challenged or overturned.

The saga involving Dreams FC and Tema Youth remains one of Ghanaian football's most controversial episodes after CAS overturned the GFA’s initial ruling.