The Ministry of Sports and Recreation in Ghana has distanced itself from allegations of irregularities in the country's 2026 FIFA World Cup visa arrangements. According to the Ministry, it is innocent and had called for an investigation into the matter. The Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service is currently investigating the allegations. The Ministry's position was made known at a press conference held on Friday.
The allegations of irregularities in the visa facilitation arrangements were made by the Minority in Parliament. They raised concerns about the involvement of the National Sports Authority (NSA), the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), and a private entity, TRIBE Culture Fest. The Ministry presented documents detailing engagements with the United States Embassy and other stakeholders. The documents showed that the NSA and TRIBE Culture Fest began engagements before the suspended Director-General of the NSA, Mr. Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, requested ministerial support.
The Ministry's special aid, Mr. Wonder Sitsofe Mandel, presented the documents at the press conference. He said correspondence dated January 28, 2026, showed that the NSA and TRIBE Culture Fest had begun engagements. Mr. Mandel also explained that the government had established an inter-agency coordination process to streamline travel arrangements ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This process aimed to improve coordination and ensure that applications passed through the appropriate channels.
The Ministry disputed claims that it was involved in selecting the applicants or guaranteeing visa approvals. According to Mr. Mandel, the request for 90 prospective travellers originated from the NSA and was forwarded through established administrative channels. The Ministry received the request on May 25, 2026, and forwarded it on May 28, 2026, for consideration through the established diplomatic process. The final decision on visa approvals remained the responsibility of the US Embassy.
The Ministry also disputed claims linking four applicants whose employment details had been questioned to the subsequent list of 90 prospective travellers. According to Mr. Mandel, their case arose from separate correspondence sent directly to the US Embassy on March 18, 2026. The Ministry maintained that no evidence had been presented publicly to establish that the sector Minister, Mr. Kofi Adams, collected money from applicants or personally benefited from the arrangements.
The Ministry stressed that any allegations of unlawful payments, misrepresentation, or abuse of public office should be thoroughly investigated. The Ministry's aid, Mr. Mandel, urged the public to allow the investigative process to establish the facts. He insisted that conclusions should be based on proper documentary evidence and verified findings rather than unsubstantiated allegations. The Ministry expressed its readiness to cooperate with the CID in its investigations into the controversy.
The investigation into the visa scandal is ongoing. The Ministry's call for a probe into the allegations is aimed at clarifying misconceptions and ensuring that individuals engaged in the scandal are held accountable. The Ministry's cooperation with the CID is expected to help establish the facts and bring perpetrators to justice. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a significant event, and the allegations of irregularities in the visa facilitation arrangements have raised concerns about Ghana's participation in the tournament.
Key points
- The Ministry of Sports and Recreation in Ghana denies involvement in alleged irregularities in 2026 FIFA World Cup visa arrangements.
- The Ministry calls for an investigation into the allegations and is cooperating with the CID.
- The allegations of irregularities in the visa facilitation arrangements were made by the Minority in Parliament.
