The Minority Caucus in Ghana's Parliament has called for the immediate dismissal of Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA). They argue that questions surrounding their institutions' roles in an alleged World Cup visa facilitation scheme make their continued stay in office untenable. The caucus maintains that no public official should be shielded from scrutiny and has called for a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
The demand comes in the wake of the suspension of former National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, which the Minority described as only the first step towards accountability. According to the Ranking Member on the Sports Committee and MP for Old Tafo, Ekow Vincent Essafuah, documents and correspondence in the Minority's possession suggest that the alleged scheme extended beyond the NSA and involved multiple institutions, including the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, and private events organisation, TRIBE Culture Fest.
The Minority alleges that public institutions may have been used in the processing and facilitation of visa applications linked to activities surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Central to the controversy are agreements reportedly entered into between the NSA, the GTA and TRIBE Culture Fest. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the NSA and TRIBE Culture Fest in June 2025, under which the two entities were to collaborate on World Cup-related initiatives and sports development programmes.
The agreement granted TRIBE operational access to NSA facilities for approved activities. TRIBE also entered into arrangements with the GTA relating to travel, visa facilitation and accommodation support for World Cup-related engagements in the United States and Canada. The caucus is demanding details of the contractual arrangements, expenditure approvals and the nature of services rendered under those agreements.
The Minority further claims that concerns were raised by the United States Embassy and the Canadian Embassy regarding the status and employment records of some applicants who were presented as personnel, affiliates or representatives of state institutions. Diplomatic officials sought clarification and supporting documentation regarding the identities and institutional roles of certain applicants. Some individuals were presented to foreign missions as holders of positions within the NSA that either did not exist or were not occupied by the persons named.
The Minority contends that such issues require verification through employment records and institutional documentation. They also claim that some applicants may have paid substantial sums of money in connection with the visa arrangements and are calling for investigators to trace any financial transactions associated with the programme. The caucus argues that questions remain regarding decisions made by officials within the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Ghana Tourism Authority.
The Minority is demanding answers on who authorised institutional partnerships, who approved applicant lists submitted to foreign diplomatic missions and what oversight mechanisms were employed throughout the process. They want investigators to examine the roles played by officials within the NSA, the GTA and the Ministry in relation to visa facilitation activities connected with World Cup engagements. The caucus says the matter should be investigated through an examination of official correspondence, financial records, travel documentation and immigration data.
Key points
- The Minority Caucus demands removal of Sports Minister Kofi Adams and GTA CEO over alleged World Cup visa facilitation scheme.
- The alleged scheme involved multiple institutions, including the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, and private events organisation, TRIBE Culture Fest.
- The Minority Caucus calls for a comprehensive investigation into the matter and demands details of contractual arrangements, expenditure approvals and services rendered under the agreements.
