Court Orders Anas Aremeyaw Anas to Testify Without Mask
The Court of Appeal has ruled that renowned investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas must appear in court without his signature mask in the ongoing case against former Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kwesi Nyantakyi.
The panel, consisting of Justices Anthony Oppong, Ackaah Boafo, and Aboagye Tandoh, unanimously determined on Thursday, January 30, 2025, that Anas’ masked testimony would violate the constitutional right of the accused to a fair trial.
Justice Ackaah Boafo criticized the High Court’s initial willingness to consider Anas’ request to testify in disguise, emphasizing that the Supreme Court had already settled the matter. The ruling reaffirmed that lower courts must adhere to decisions made by higher courts under the doctrine of stare decisis.
Anas’ testimony is crucial in the state’s prosecution of Nyantakyi, who was implicated in corrupt dealings in the 2018 Number 12 documentary. The ruling now mandates the journalist to take the stand in open court without his disguise.
The case remains one of Ghana’s most high-profile corruption trials, drawing national and international attention.
Source: bbc