The Minority in Parliament is demanding the immediate dismissal and prosecution of Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Eddie Adams and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) over their alleged roles in the $623,000 2026 FIFA World Cup visa scandal.
The demand follows President John Mahama’s suspension of National Sports Authority (NSA) Director General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah amid investigations into the controversial visa facilitation payment.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday, Ranking Member of the Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, alleged that some officials facilitated visa applications for individuals who were not staff of the Ministry.
According to him, officials allegedly prepared a cover letter presenting outsiders as Ministry staff to enable them to obtain visas.
Mr Assafuah said the allegation raises serious questions about the procedures used to facilitate the travel of individuals to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The controversy centres on the payment of approximately $623,000 in visa facilitation fees linked to Ghana’s arrangements for supporters and officials travelling to the tournament.
President Mahama subsequently suspended Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as NSA Director General pending investigations into the matter.
The Minority is now calling for the investigation to be expanded to other officials it alleges may have played a role in the arrangements.
It wants the Sports Minister and the GTA Chief Executive removed from office and prosecuted if investigations establish that they were culpable.
The Minority says a thorough investigation is needed to determine how the funds were approved, who benefited from the arrangements and whether the proper procedures for visa facilitation were followed.
Mr Assafuah maintained that accountability should extend beyond the suspension of the NSA Director General if investigations establish that other officials were involved.
