President John Dramani Mahama has removed Yaw Ampofo Ankrah from his position as Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) amid scrutiny over an alleged World Cup visa facilitation scheme. This decision comes after allegations emerged concerning a purported arrangement in which individuals seeking to travel to the 2026 World Cup were allegedly charged money for assistance with visas and travel arrangements.
The allegations led to a police investigation, with reports that Ampofo Ankrah and some NSA staff were questioned by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). The minority in Parliament had called for Ampofo Ankrah to be suspended or dismissed while investigations continued. They alleged that over $600,000 was collected through the arrangement, with some applicants charged as much as $8,000 for assistance.
The NSA has denied authorizing any visa facilitation service or money-collection arrangement connected to the 2026 World Cup. In a statement, the Authority said it had neither engaged in nor sanctioned activities of the kind alleged and confirmed that its legal team was cooperating with the police investigation. Ampofo Ankrah and other officials would make themselves available to assist with any lawful investigation.
Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong has been appointed Acting Director-General of the NSA following Ampofo Ankrah's removal. This change in leadership comes at a time when the NSA is facing scrutiny over its operations. The Minority had stressed that its call for Ampofo Ankrah to step aside was not intended to prejudge the outcome of the investigation but argued that his removal or suspension would allow the probe to proceed without concerns over institutional leadership.
Ampofo Ankrah's removal comes less than a month after President Mahama dissolved the governing board of the National Sports Authority with immediate effect on September 2, 2026. The Presidency confirmed that the NSA was among nine state institutions whose governing boards were dissolved, with the affected boards expected to be reconstituted in due course.
Ampofo Ankrah was a member of the dissolved NSA board in his capacity as Director-General. His subsequent removal from the Director-General position is a separate development from the earlier dissolution of the board. The latest changes leave Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong in charge of the NSA on an acting basis as the controversy surrounding the alleged World Cup visa arrangement remains subject to investigation.
The controversy has sparked widespread debate, with many Ghanaians calling for accountability and transparency in the management of the NSA. The government's decision to remove Ampofo Ankrah and appoint an acting Director-General is seen as a move to restore public trust in the institution. The investigation into the alleged visa facilitation scheme is ongoing, and further updates are expected in due course.
Key points
- President John Dramani Mahama removes Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as NSA Director-General amid allegations of a World Cup visa facilitation scheme.
- Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong appointed Acting Director-General of the NSA.
- The NSA denies authorizing any visa facilitation service or money-collection arrangement connected to the 2026 World Cup.
