The removal of Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as Director-General of the National Sports Authority has sparked calls for the resignation of Ghana's Sports Minister, Kofi Adams. Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Minority Ranking Member on Parliament's Youth and Sports Committee, has urged the Minister to take responsibility and step down. This follows allegations of a purported visa facilitation arrangement linked to travel to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to Mr. Assafuah, accountability should extend beyond the former NSA Director-General. He made the call in a Facebook post on Thursday, October 1, 2026, following President John Dramani Mahama's decision to remove Mr. Ampofo Ankrah from office. The Minority had previously called for Mr. Ampofo Ankrah to be suspended or dismissed while investigations into the allegations continued.
The allegations surround a purported visa facilitation arrangement linked to travel to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Minority has alleged that more than US$600,000 was collected through the arrangement and that some individuals were charged as much as US$8,000 for assistance with visa and travel arrangements. Mr. Ampofo Ankrah and some NSA officials were also reported to have been questioned by the Criminal Investigations Department as part of the investigation.
President Mahama has appointed Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong as Acting Director-General of the NSA following Mr. Ampofo Ankrah's removal. The latest development comes less than a month after President Mahama dissolved the governing board of the NSA with immediate effect on September 2, 2026. Mr. Ampofo Ankrah was a member of the dissolved board in his capacity as Director-General.
Mr. Assafuah stated that the Minister must take responsibility and be sacked for his role in the mess at the NSA. He argued that anything short of that risks treating the symptom while leaving the underlying problem untouched. The Minority welcomes the President's decision to remove the NSA Director-General but argues that accountability must not stop at the most convenient target.
The pressure on the Sports Minister comes at a time when the Ghanaian government is facing scrutiny over its handling of sports-related issues. The country's football team, the Black Stars, has faced recent setbacks, including the cancellation of a friendly match against Morocco and the departure of coach Carlos Queiroz.
The government's response to the allegations and the calls for the Minister's resignation remains to be seen. Key points include:
Key points
- The Minority is calling for the Sports Minister to take responsibility and be sacked for his role in the mess at the NSA.
- The allegations surround a purported visa facilitation arrangement linked to travel to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- President Mahama has appointed Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong as Acting Director-General of the NSA following Mr. Ampofo Ankrah's removal.
