The Court of Appeal has ruled that undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas must testify in open court without his traditional mask in the case against former Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kwesi Nyantakyi.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, January 30, 2025, the panel affirmed that Anas cannot conceal his face while giving testimony.
Justice Ackaah Boafo, delivering the ruling, stressed that the constitutional right of an accused person to a fair trial outweighs witness protection claims.
The court emphasized that in a criminal trial, the accused has the fundamental right to confront their accuser, which takes precedence over anonymity.
Additionally, the Court of Appeal rebuked the High Court for reconsidering Anas’ request to testify in disguise, arguing that the lower court was bound by the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling on the matter.
“The doctrine of stare decisis binds lower courts to the decisions of higher courts, and as such, the High Court erred in revisiting an issue already settled by the Supreme Court,” the ruling stated.
Anas Aremeyaw Anas will have to appear in court without his signature mask when testifying against Nyantakyi according to the ruling.
