Kwesi Nyantakyi was a very good leader – Former GFA comms Director Sannie Daara

Former Ghana Football Association Communications Director Ibrahim Sannie Daara has praised the leadership style of former GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi, describing him as a brilliant and inclusive decision-maker who valued the views of people at every level.

Speaking in an interview with broadcaster Kafui Dey, Daara reflected on his years working alongside Nyantakyi and the lessons he learned from one of Ghana football’s most influential administrators.

“I learned a lot from Kwesi Nyantakyi,” Daara said.

“He was a very, very good leader. He was smart, quiet, sharp and really brilliant.”

According to Daara, Nyantakyi’s ability to listen and gather diverse opinions before making key decisions was one of his defining qualities.

“He was open to listening to other people. He would always ask, ‘What do you think? What do you think?’ before taking a decision,” he recalled.

Daara said Nyantakyi’s consultative approach extended beyond senior officials and football executives, often seeking views from people outside the traditional decision-making structure.

“Sometimes he would even ask his driver, ‘Do you think this decision we are making is good? What are people saying in town?’” Daara revealed.

The former communications director said this willingness to engage with different perspectives helped Nyantakyi remain connected to public sentiment during his time at the helm of Ghana football.

Beyond his leadership style, Daara also highlighted what he described as Nyantakyi’s remarkable memory and attention to detail.

“Something would happen today and you would think he had forgotten it, but five years later he could tell you exactly what happened and how it happened,” he said.

Daara further described the former football administrator as “loyal to a fault”, noting that loyalty was one of the characteristics that stood out most during their working relationship.

Nyantakyi was one of the most powerful figures in African football before resigning from his positions in 2018 following the Number 12 investigative documentary, which exposed alleged corruption within Ghana football.

He subsequently received a FIFA ban, later reduced to 15 years on appeal. In 2025, the criminal case against him in Ghana was dismissed after prosecutors failed to produce key witnesses.

Despite the controversies that marked the end of his football administration career, Daara’s reflections paint a picture of a leader whose management style left a lasting impression on many who worked closely with him.

Jamaldeen Wiayuka

See Full Bio