A member of Ghana's opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) communications team, Stephen Fiifi Boafo, has strongly condemned the alleged 2026 World Cup visa scandal, describing it as the country's worst visa-related scandal. He expressed these sentiments on TV3's The KeyPoints on October 10, 2026. Boafo emphasized that the scandal, involving alleged extortion of applicants seeking to travel for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has caused significant damage to Ghana's international reputation.
The scandal involves allegations that some Ghanaians seeking to travel for the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted in the US, Mexico, and Canada were charged between $8,000 and $9,000. This was under arrangements involving the National Sports Authority (NSA), Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), and private partner TRIBE Culture Fest. However, the official agreement was $3,000 for US visas and $2,000 for Canada. The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns, stating that only 15 of 102 names submitted to the Canadian Embassy as NSA staff could be verified.
According to Boafo, the revelations are shameful and embarrassing, especially given the National Democratic Congress (NDC)'s previous criticisms of visa procurement for international sporting activities. The NDC, now in administration, has been accused of perpetuating a similar scandal. Boafo stated that it is shocking for the NDC to be involved in such a scandal after previously criticizing the process.
The former Director of Public Affairs for Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) stressed that the act "is a shame, it's embarrassing, and it is one that requires immediate action to help us repair the damage that it has caused to our country." Boafo argued that beyond the financial concerns, the scandal has badly dented Ghana's international reputation, necessitating decisive government action.
Boafo emphasized that the government must act swiftly to demonstrate that the State is not complicit in the alleged racketeering. He stated that a huge damage has been done to Ghana's image as a country and that the President and government must act to give a clear indication that this is not a State-sponsored activity.
The Minority in Parliament has alleged that about $623,000 was collected in facilitation fees. This has raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of the visa procurement process. The government is expected to take measures to address the situation and restore public trust.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted in the US, Mexico, and Canada, has been marred by controversy surrounding Ghana's visa procurement process. The NPP member's comments have added to the growing pressure on the government to take immediate action and address the scandal.
Key points
- NPP member Fiifi Boafo describes 2026 World Cup visa scandal as Ghana's worst.
- Scandal involves alleged extortion of applicants seeking to travel for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Government urged to act swiftly to repair damage to Ghana's international reputation.
