Who is Kwesi Nyantakyi? Everything we know about the former GFA president
Most Ghanaians are familiar with Kwesi Nyantakyi's story. He served as the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), playing a pivotal role in developing and promoting football in Ghana. However, his football administration career ended unceremoniously due to corruption. But what happened to him? And what is Kwesi Nyantakyi's life story?
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Kwesi Nyantakyi is a prominent banker, lawyer, and former football administrator known for his extensive influence in Ghanaian and African football. However, his career has had its ups and downs, with significant achievements and notable controversies.
Kwesi Nyantakyi's profile summary
| Full name | Kwesi Nyantakyi |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 27 October 1968 |
| Age | 55 years old (as of August 2024) |
| Zodiac sign | Scorpio |
| Place of birth | Wa, Upper West Region, Ghana |
| Nationality | Ghanaian |
| Ethnicity | African |
| Religion | Islam |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Marital status | Married |
| Wives | Christine-Marie Nyantakyi and Mariam Sannie Nyantakyi |
| Children | Two |
| School | Wa Senior High Technical School |
| University | University of Ghana, Ghana School of Law |
| Profession | Banker, lawyer, politician, football administrator |
Kwesi Nyantakyi's biography
Kwesi was born on 27 October 1968 in Wa town in the Upper West Region of Ghana. What is Kwesi Nyantakyi's age? He is 55 (as of August 2024). Kwesi's mother is from the Waa ethnic tribe, and his father is Akan from Kwaso in the Ashanti Region.
Speaking about his early life and religion during an interview in 2016, Kwese said:
I was not born a Muslim. I became a Muslim at the age of five. My father was a Christian. My mother went to marry a Muslim, and all of us became Muslims. I attended Makaranta (Islamic School) to learn the Quran and have extensive knowledge of it.
Nyantakyi spent his early years in Wa, attending primary school locally and secondary school at Wa Senior High Technical School in the 1980s. He later attended the University of Ghana and the Ghana School of Law in Accra.
Career
Source: Original
Kwesi has an extensive career spanning various disciplines, including banking, law, and football administration. He began his career in football administration while at University, where he was the club representative for the Upper West Heroes football team. After graduation, Kwesi joined First Atlantic Bank, where he worked for several years.
He then joined the Executive Council of the Ghana League Clubs Association, where he rose to become the GHALCA Vice Chairman. His position automatically qualified him to become the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice Chairman.
In 2005, Kewsi ascended to the position of acting GFA President after its chairman, Dr Nyaho Tamakhole, resigned. On 30 December 2005, Nyantakyi defeated fellow candidates Ade Coker and Kojo Bonsu to become the President of the Ghana Football Association.
In 2011, Kwesi received the nod to become the interim President of the West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone B after FIFA suspended its President Amos Adamu. On 31 May 2011, WAFU elected Nyantakyi president for a two-year term. He won unopposed in the November 2013 elections and again in 2015. However, Kwesi resigned from his position on 11 June 2018.
Controversies and downfall
Despite his achievements, former GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi's career ended in controversy. In 2018, an investigative documentary by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas implicated him in a corruption scandal.
The documentary exposed widespread corruption within the GFA, leading to Nyantakyi's resignation on 8 June 2018 and a lifetime ban (later reverted to 15 years) from all football-related activities by FIFA.
What positions did Kwesi Nyantakyi hold?
Kwesi Nyantakyi has held several prominent positions in football and sports administration. His notable positions include:
- President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA): He served as the President from 2005 until his resignation in 2018.
- 1st Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF): Elected in 2017.
- Member of the FIFA Council: Elected to the FIFA Council in 2016.
- President of the West African Football Union (WAFU): From 2011 until his resignation in 2018.
Who is Kwesi Nyantakyi's wife?
Kwesi Nyantaki has two wives, Christine-Marie Nyantakyi, his first wife and Mariam Sannie Nyantakyi, his second. His first wife, Christine-Marie, has been the director of Oasis Montessori School since 2011.
Kwesi married his second wife, Mariam, in a private ceremony in July 2017. She graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 2015.
Kwesi Nyantakyi's children
Kwesi has two children, daughters, with his first wife, Christine-Marie. They hit the headlines in 2018 after reports emerged that they had suffered bullying at school due to their father's corruption allegations. Their mother told the media that her kids, students at the Ghana International School (GIS), suffered stigma following the Anas expose.
FAQs
- Who is Kwesi Nyantakyi? He is a Ghanaian lawyer, banker and former football administrator best known for serving as President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) from 2005 to 2018.
- Where does Kwesi Nyantakyi come from? Kwesi is from Wa Town in the Upper West Region of Ghana.
- Which tribe is Kwesi Nyantakyi? He is bi-tribal—his mother is of Waa descent, while his father is of Akan descent.
- How old is Kwesi Nyantakyi? The former Ghana Football Association president is 55 years old (as of August 2024). He was born on 27 October 1968.
- What happened to Kwesi Nyantakyi? He experienced a dramatic fall from grace due to a corruption scandal, which saw him resign as President of GFA and receive a 15-year football ban from FIFA.
- Who is Kwesi Nyantakyi's wife? He has two wives: Christine-Marie, his first, and Mariam Sannie, his second.
- Who are Kwesi Nyantakyi's children? The former GFA president has two daughters with his first wife, Christine-Marie.
Kwesi Nyantakyi is a Ghanaian banker, lawyer, and former football administrator. He is infamously known for his involvement in a high-profile corruption scandal that led to his lifetime ban from all football-related activities by FIFA.
Yen.com.gh recently published Mahamudu Bawumaia's biography. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is famously known as the Vice President of Ghana. He has held the position since being elected in 2017.
Mahamudu Bawumaia's popularity, economic expertise, and commitment to public service have made him one of Ghana's most famous politicians. As a result, many are curious to learn more about him. Read the article to know the story of his life, including how he rose to become the Vice President of Ghana.
Source: YEN.com.gh
