Former Deputy Sports Minister Pius Enam Hadzide has stated that signed letters and admissions of payment provide grounds for the NPP's criticism of Sports Minister Kofi Adams and the suspended National Sports Authority (NSA) boss, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah. He made these comments on JoyNews' PM Express, asserting that the party's position on the 2026 World Cup visa controversy is grounded in evidence. According to Mr. Hadzide, the correspondence routed through government institutions requires scrutiny.
The controversy emerged publicly after the World Cup, with allegations that more than $623,000 was collected from prospective travelers for visa assistance. Some applicants claimed they received neither visas nor interview appointments. The NSA's Chief Operations Officer, Nana Gyamfi Awere, admitted receiving money from applicants and filed a petition alleging payments to other individuals. Mr. Ankrah was suspended on October 1 pending investigations, while his lawyer has denied that he received money to facilitate visas.
Mr. Hadzide also questioned the administrative arrangements at the NSA, stating that a secretariat has been established at the National Sports Authority, and an appointment alien to the organogram has been made. He argued that these documents provided a basis for demanding answers from the officials involved. The Sports Ministry has denied involvement in wrongdoing, stating that it forwarded an NSA request through established channels and that no public evidence shows Adams collected money or received commissions.
The former Deputy Minister contrasted the current allegations with the 2018 Australian visa controversy, which led to his suspension under President Akufo-Addo. That case involved Ghanaians allegedly posing as journalists to enter Australia for the Commonwealth Games. Akufo-Addo subsequently announced Hadzide's exoneration and reinstated him in July 2018. Mr. Hadzide questioned why no one had come forward to identify who they had paid to travel to Australia.
Mr. Hadzide called for a reassessment of the 2018 Australian visa scandal, stating that there should be clarity now on the matter. He emphasized that in his own case, he didn't find the basis for the allegations, but he carried the cross. The 2018 incident involved Ghanaians allegedly posing as journalists to enter Australia for the Commonwealth Games.
The Sports Ministry has maintained that it followed established channels in forwarding the NSA's request for visa assistance. However, the Ministry has not provided further details on the matter. An investigation into the allegations is ongoing, with various stakeholders calling for clarity on the situation.
The controversy has sparked a national conversation about accountability and transparency in Ghana's sports administration. As the investigation unfolds, stakeholders are watching closely to see how the situation will be resolved. Key issues, including the admissions of payment and the role of government institutions in the visa application process, remain at the forefront of the discussion.
Key points
- The NPP has criticized Sports Minister Kofi Adams and the suspended National Sports Authority boss Yaw Ampofo Ankrah over a visa scandal involving signed letters and admissions of payment.
- The controversy involves allegations that more than $623,000 was collected from prospective travelers for visa assistance.
- The Sports Ministry has denied involvement in wrongdoing, stating that it forwarded an NSA request through established channels.
