The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate suspected corruption and administrative irregularities in visa arrangements linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a petition dated Thursday, October 15, the MP named the National Sports Authority (NSA), Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and Ministry of Sports and Recreation, as well as private entities TRIBE Culture Fest and the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF), for investigation.
He is asking CHRAJ to examine beneficiary lists, the verification of individuals presented as institutional personnel, the criteria for selecting applicants and the management of payments and sponsorship proceeds.
According to the petition, a list of 102 names reportedly submitted in connection with the NSA contained only 15 individuals who could be verified as personnel through the records examined.
Mr Assafuah said the discrepancy needed to be explained with supporting documentary evidence.
He has also called for an investigation into the GTA’s reported allocation of 400 United States visa slots and 800 Canadian visa slots, including how beneficiaries were selected, the approvals granted, and how sponsorship proceeds were used.
The petition further refers to a reported July 2026 request by 14 GTA regional directors seeking explanations about the allocation process and the use of funds.
Concerns have also been raised about alleged payments of about GH¢2,250 per person under arrangements involving GHATOF.
The MP wants investigators to establish whether visa fees were paid and whether money collected from applicants was refunded.
Mr Assafuah is urging CHRAJ to obtain relevant agreements, correspondence, beneficiary lists and financial records to establish the roles of the institutions and individuals involved.
He wants the Commission to determine whether any public officer abused their position or breached their administrative duties and make appropriate recommendations.
He has also called for evidence of suspected criminal conduct to be referred to the relevant authorities where necessary.
The MP stressed that the concerns raised in the petition should not be treated as established findings, but should be independently investigated.
The petition cites Articles 218(a) and 218(e) of the 1992 Constitution and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice Act, 1993 (Act 456), as the legal basis for the request.
