The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other pertinent institutions have been contacted by Ghana’s government to contest Canada’s decision to deny midfielder Thomas Partey access prior to the Black Stars’ opening game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to Ghana’s Sports Minister Kofi Adams.
Partey’s visa application was allegedly denied by Canadian authorities, therefore he is anticipated to miss Ghana’s Group L match against Panama on June 17 in Toronto.
FIFA has announced that the midfielder would not be permitted to travel from Ghana’s team headquarters in the United States to Canada for the match, pointing out that host nations have complete discretion over immigration issues.
Adams stated that the administration has already started diplomatic measures to request a review of the decision in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Citi FM Eyewitness News on Friday, June 12.
“As has been indicated by His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, and the mandate through his Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, that any Ghanaian touched anywhere, we will not keep quiet over it. Through the appropriate channels, we have communicated to the rightful authorities and are requesting them to review the decision. I hope and pray that they do what they must do, and do it right,” he said.
Adams expressed optimism that Canadian authorities would review the decision, arguing that it was incompatible with international accords to which Ghana and Canada are signatories.
Additionally, he emphasised that Partey has been charged in a court case but has not been found guilty, calling the reasons for the visa denial “flimsy.”
“We got a decision that he had been denied entry to Canada on very flimsy reasons. I say flimsy because the person had already been charged. He has not been found guilty,” Adams said.
He questioned why Canada would adopt a different position, pointing out that Partey still resides and works freely in the nation where the alleged violation is said to have taken place.
He said, “One is therefore surprised that Canada, which is so far away, will now apply rules to the extent that where somebody has just been merely charged, that person has been deemed guilty.”
Due to the development, unless Canadian authorities change the judgement prior to the game, Ghana may be without one of its important midfield players for its opening World Cup match.
Source: newsthemegh.com