Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has rejected calls by the Minority in Parliament for his dismissal over alleged irregularities surrounding visa arrangements for supporters and officials linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The controversy follows reports that approximately 90 individuals paid between $10,000 and $15,000 each for arrangements connected to the global football tournament. However, reports indicate that only five people secured visas for the competition, which was hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The allegations have triggered public concern over the handling of World Cup-related visa applications and prompted calls for investigations into the roles played by officials and institutions involved in the process.
As part of the fallout, National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has been suspended, while the Presidency is expected to initiate a probe into the matter.
The Minority in Parliament is demanding accountability, including the dismissal and possible prosecution of officials suspected of involvement in the alleged irregularities.
Kofi Adams Says Sports Ministry Was Not Involved in Visa Arrangements
Speaking in an interview with Citi News, Kofi Adams questioned the basis for calls seeking his removal, insisting that the Ministry of Sports and Recreation had not been informed about the arrangements before they were initiated.
According to the minister, the process was handled by the National Sports Authority, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the United States Embassy, and TRIBE Culture Fest without the direct knowledge of his ministry.
He maintained that the organisations involved had conducted their activities independently and had not formally briefed the Ministry of Sports and Recreation on the arrangements.
Mr Adams argued that his ministry would have been aware of the process if the relevant institutions had officially submitted their plans, copied the ministry in their correspondence, or otherwise communicated the details.
Minister Identifies May 19 Letter as First Point of Awareness
The Sports Minister explained that his first detailed awareness of the matter came through a letter dated May 19, which requested that the names of event coordinators and volunteers be forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy.
He said the letter was subsequently sent to the ministry’s Chief Director, who serves on the technical committee overseeing aspects of the arrangements.
According to Mr Adams, the committee had agreed that individuals expected to perform specific duties during the World Cup should have their names submitted to the appropriate authorities to enable the necessary preparatory procedures to begin.
He stressed that forwarding the letter through the ministry’s administrative channels did not mean he had prior knowledge of the alleged financial transactions or the broader arrangements under investigation.
Kofi Adams Denies Knowledge of Alleged World Cup Visa Payments
The minister has also denied having prior knowledge of the reported payments made by individuals seeking visa-related arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mr Adams maintained that he was not involved in collecting money from applicants and insisted that the allegations did not establish a basis for his dismissal.
He further stated that, to his knowledge, government funds had not been lost in connection with the matter.
His comments come amid growing public interest in the alleged payments, the visa application process, and the accountability of institutions involved in facilitating travel arrangements for the international football competition.
The circumstances surrounding the payments and the roles of the various organisations are expected to be examined as the matter progresses.
Minority Demands Accountability Over World Cup Visa Allegations
The Minority’s demand for Kofi Adams’ dismissal followed allegations raised by Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Sports Committee, at a press conference on Wednesday, October 7.
Mr Assafuah alleged that certain officials had facilitated visa applications for individuals who were not employees of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.
He further claimed that a cover letter had allegedly been prepared to present some outsiders as ministry staff to support their visa applications.
These allegations have raised questions about the documentation used in the application process and whether established administrative procedures were followed.
The Minority has called for the dismissal and prosecution of officials it believes were involved, including the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority over alleged participation in the arrangements.
The allegations remain subject to investigation, and responsibility for any wrongdoing would need to be established through the appropriate processes.
NSA Director-General Suspended as Probe Looms
The suspension of National Sports Authority Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has added another dimension to the controversy surrounding Ghana’s World Cup visa arrangements.
With the Presidency expected to launch an investigation, attention is focused on the roles of the NSA, Ghana Tourism Authority, TRIBE Culture Fest, and other relevant institutions.
The investigation is expected to help clarify how the arrangements were initiated, how the reported payments were handled, and why only a small number of applicants reportedly obtained visas.
Kofi Adams continues to maintain that his involvement was limited to forwarding the May 19 letter through the appropriate administrative channels and that he had no prior knowledge of the alleged financial transactions.
As calls for accountability intensify, the outcome of the expected probe could provide further clarity on the circumstances surrounding the controversial visa arrangements linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Source: newsthemegh.com