The special aide to Ghana's Sports Minister, Wonder Sitsofe Mandel, has stated that the Ministry of Sports and Recreation will not protect individuals found to have engaged in wrongdoing in the ongoing investigation into the alleged World Cup visa scandal. Mandel emphasized that the law must take its course, and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is already investigating the matter. He made these comments on JoyNews' Newsfile on October 10, 2026.
The investigation follows concerns over the payment of approximately $623,000 in visa facilitation fees connected to Ghana's arrangements for supporters and officials traveling to the World Cup. President John Mahama suspended Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) pending investigations into the matter. The Minority is now demanding that the investigation be extended to other officials allegedly involved in the arrangements.
The Minority is calling for the Sports Minister and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) Chief Executive to be removed from office and prosecuted if found culpable. They claim that over 30 people misrepresented themselves as GTA board members to the US Embassy. The Parliamentary Sports Committee will also interrogate the Black Stars' struggles with the Ministry and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) over invitations.
According to Kofi Adams, the Sports Ministry spent $1.26 million on 2,922 World Cup tickets. The Black Queens have demanded clarity over unpaid allowances and challenged the Sports Ministry's claims. The Minority caucus is also demanding accountability over the welfare crisis affecting the Black Queens, who have not received their bonuses.
The Auditor-General has recommended sanctions for certain officials over administrative lapses and procurement breaches. Abdul Rasheed Saminu has criticized the Ghana Sports Ministry over travel arrangements after the World Relays success. The Ministry has denied owing team per diems to the Black Queens.
The World Cup visa scandal has led to increased scrutiny of the Sports Ministry's activities. Vincent Assafuah has alleged that over 30 people misrepresented themselves as GTA board members to the US Embassy. The Parliamentary Committee will investigate these allegations.
The Sports Ministry's assurance that it will not shield individuals involved in wrongdoing is a significant development in the investigation. The law must take its course, and those found culpable will face prosecution. The Ministry's commitment to transparency and accountability will be crucial in resolving the scandal.
Key points
- The Ghanaian Sports Ministry has assured an impartial investigation into the World Cup visa scandal.
- The Minority is demanding the removal and prosecution of the Sports Minister and GTA Chief Executive if found culpable.
- The Auditor-General has recommended sanctions for officials over administrative lapses and procurement breaches.
