Asafo Adjei, has urged the Government of Ghana to pursue quiet diplomatic engagement rather than public statements in its efforts to secure entry into Canada for Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey ahead of Ghana’s FIFA World Cup campaign.
His comments come after Canadian authorities denied Partey a visa, ruling him out of Ghana’s opening Group L match against Panama in Toronto. The Canadian government reportedly based its decision on ongoing criminal proceedings involving the player in the United Kingdom, despite the footballer maintaining his innocence and pleading not guilty to all charges.
Speaking on the matter, Asafo Adjei argued that while Ghana has every right to defend its citizens and protest decisions it considers unfair, diplomacy is often more effective when conducted behind closed doors.
According to him, issuing strongly worded public statements and press releases may harden positions rather than create the atmosphere needed for constructive dialogue.
“We should be engaging Canada through diplomatic channels. These issues are not usually resolved through press conferences and public statements. Diplomacy works better when there is direct engagement between governments,” he stated.
He noted that Canada, as a sovereign nation, has the authority to determine who enters its territory and that Ghana must approach the matter strategically if it hopes to secure a reconsideration of the decision.
Asafo Adjei stressed that Ghana’s concern should be based on the principle that Partey has not been convicted by any court and remains entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. However, he maintained that advancing that argument would require sustained diplomatic discussions rather than public confrontations.
“The focus should be on making a strong diplomatic case. Public declarations alone may not achieve the intended objective. Government must engage the relevant Canadian authorities directly and seek a solution through established diplomatic processes,” he said.
Partey, who is currently with the Black Stars at their training base in the United States, will miss Ghana’s opening World Cup fixture against Panama in Toronto but remains eligible to feature in subsequent group matches against England and Croatia, which will be played in the United States.
