Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has been suspended from his position as Director-General of Ghana's National Sports Authority (NSA) due to an ongoing police investigation into allegations surrounding a visa facilitation arrangement linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The suspension comes after allegations emerged that about $623,000 was received from prospective travelers seeking assistance with visa and travel arrangements for the tournament.
The allegations led to an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. Ankrah appeared before investigators, denying any wrongdoing and rejecting the allegations against him. He claimed to have no knowledge of any arrangement involving the collection of money from people seeking to travel to the World Cup.
The NSA has denied authorizing any visa facilitation service or establishing an office to collect money from members of the public seeking assistance to attend the tournament. In a statement, the Authority clarified its relationship with TRIBE FEST, a FIFA-licensed partner involved in fan-experience activities and World Cup viewing events.
A petition submitted to the CID on September 8 alleged that individuals connected to the NSA collected money from prospective travelers with the understanding that their visas and travel arrangements for the World Cup would be facilitated. The Minority in Parliament called for Ankrah's suspension or dismissal while investigations continued.
Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Ranking Member of Parliament's Youth and Sports Committee, stated that prospective travelers were allegedly charged up to $8,000 for assistance with World Cup travel arrangements. The Minority demanded answers regarding who authorized the alleged arrangement, who received the funds, and what services were provided.
Associate Professor Emmanuel Sarpong of the University of Education, Winneba, has been appointed as Acting Director-General of the NSA. Ankrah's suspension does not establish criminal liability or prove the allegations against him. The investigation will aim to establish whether money was collected, who received the funds, and what representations were made to those who paid.
The ongoing investigation and Ankrah's suspension come at a significant time for Ghanaian sports, with attention focused on accountability, administration, and the management of the country's sports institutions. The NSA's legal team is cooperating with the police investigation, and Ankrah and other relevant officials will make themselves available to investigators when required.
Key points
- Yaw Ampofo Ankrah suspended as NSA Director-General amid World Cup visa allegations
- Investigation into allegations of visa facilitation arrangement linked to 2026 FIFA World Cup
- Associate Professor Emmanuel Sarpong appointed as Acting Director-General of NSA
