Kwesi Nyantakyi defends validity of GFA’s Prampram land lease amid dispute

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kwesi Nyantakyi has defended the validity of the Association’s lease for its 100-acre Prampram property, insisting that the decision to pursue a new lease in 2019 does not automatically invalidate the previous agreement.

Nyantakyi’s comments come amid questions about the legal status of the land and the development of football facilities at the site, following an interview by GFA Communications Director, Henry Asante Twum.

In a detailed account of the property’s history, Nyantakyi said the land was acquired for the GFA in 2001, with a lease subsequently executed by the chiefs and elders of Prampram in 2002.

He said the lease was presented to the world football governing body FIFA as part of the Association’s application for funding under the first FIFA GOAL Project.

According to the former GFA president, a dispute emerged after the death of the traditional leader who granted the land, when a succeeding traditional authority requested the return of the lease for cancellation and re-issuance.

Nyantakyi said the GFA declined the request, maintaining that a properly granted lease did not automatically become invalid following a change in traditional leadership.

The matter subsequently went to the High Court in Tema, where the family instituted legal proceedings seeking, among other reliefs, the cancellation of the lease.

“Our position throughout was that the lease remained valid unless and until the relevant legal process established otherwise,” Nyantakyi stated.

He argued that the decision by the succeeding GFA administration to seek a new lease in 2019 should not be interpreted as proof that the earlier agreement was invalid.

“The decision to seek a new lease does not, by itself, establish that the previous lease was invalid or that the GFA lacked a valid lease throughout the period from 2001 to 2019,” he said.

“A disputed lease is not necessarily a void lease.”

Nyantakyi, however, acknowledged that the legal status of the property must be assessed on the basis of the relevant documents, applicable law and any binding judicial decision.

• GFA facilities developed with FIFA and CAF support

The former GFA president also outlined the development projects undertaken at the Prampram site, crediting FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) with providing support for several facilities.

These include a three-storey residential facility with 30 rooms, additional accommodation developed under FIFA GOAL Projects 1 and 2, a multipurpose hall and a classroom block.

An artificial-turf pitch with floodlights was also developed under the FIFA Forward Programme, while a natural-grass football pitch was constructed through a CAF development programme.

Nyantakyi said securing funding for such projects required member associations to meet land-title requirements, making the 2002 lease an important part of the GFA’s applications for development assistance.

He was careful to distinguish the use of the lease in funding applications from a definitive legal determination of the property’s ownership.

He noted that funding approval did not, in itself, constitute a judicial ruling on ownership or conclusively settle every question surrounding the lease.

• Nyantakyi addresses alleged sale of portions of land

Nyantakyi also challenged reported assertions that portions of the Prampram property had been sold, calling for specific details and supporting documentation to be made public.

He said the public deserved to know which portions of the land were allegedly sold, who authorised the transactions, the identities of the buyers and the documentation supporting the claims.

The former GFA president also rejected suggestions that portions of the property had been sold to members of the previous GFA Executive Committee.

“To the best of my knowledge and belief, no portion of the land was sold to any member of that Executive Committee,” he stated.

He urged that any allegations of land sales be examined through verifiable evidence rather than speculation, adding that the record should be corrected if the claims proved unfounded.

The allegations and Nyantakyi’s response have not, in themselves, established whether any such transactions took place.

• Encroachment and calls to protect GFA property

The former GFA boss further disclosed that the Prampram community, through the Government of Ghana, had at one stage requested the release of 25 acres of the property for the construction of a police station.

He said growing urbanisation also led to encroachment on portions of the land, prompting the GFA Executive Committee to instruct lawyer Kwaku Eyiah to work with the Survey Department to establish clear boundaries and pursue appropriate legal measures to protect the Association’s interests.

Nyantakyi used the account to pay tribute to individuals he said played important roles in securing the property and advancing football development in Ghana.

They included the late former Prampram MP and Youth and Sports Minister E.T. Mensah, former GFA president Ben Koufie, former vice-president E.A. Owusu-Ansah, former Ghana captain Abedi Ayew Pele, Kojo Quarshie, Yaw La-Danso and Sylvester Mensah.

He said their contributions formed part of an important legacy that deserved recognition.

• Call for clarity over Prampram land

Nyantakyi maintained that changes in GFA leadership and legal strategy should not automatically be treated as evidence that earlier decisions were invalid.

He nevertheless acknowledged the need for the property's legal status and any allegations surrounding its disposal to be resolved through documentary evidence and the appropriate legal processes.

He said the Prampram facilities remained a significant asset for Ghanaian football and urged stakeholders to focus on establishing the facts and safeguarding the property for future generations.

“Our collective responsibility is to establish the facts, protect the GFA’s interests, and ensure that the Prampram facilities continue to serve Ghanaian football without misrepresentation or unsubstantiated allegations,” he said.