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Ghana National Sports Authority visa fraud investigation

Updated 8 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-12 13:19 UTC → 2026-10-13 05:07 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The investigation into alleged visa facilitation irregularities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has intensified. Claims suggest approximately US$623,000 was collected from individuals seeking assistance, with some paying between US$7,000 and US$14,000 to facilitate travel to the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Parliamentary members have raised concerns regarding the accuracy of personnel lists submitted by the Ghana Tourism Authority and the National Sports Authority to US and Canadian embassies. The Minority in Parliament has called for the dismissal of Sports Minister Kofi Adams and the CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority. MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah has cautioned against shifting blame to the Foreign Affairs Minister, asserting the Sports Ministry had a duty to verify applicant identities. President John Dramani Mahama directed former National Sports Authority Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah to step aside, with Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong appointed as acting Director-General. Mr. Ankrah’s lawyer, Jerry Avernugbor, has denied all allegations, stating his client ‘has not received a penny from any individual’ and is undergoing near-daily interviews with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Sports Minister Kofi Adams recently revealed that the dismissed Director-General had submitted a request for visa assistance for 90 individuals described as ‘volunteers and event coordinators.’ The Minister noted the ministry was unaware until May 2026 that some activities were planned for the United States. He also noted that the American Embassy introduced ‘Tribe Fest Culture’ to the NSA and Ghana Tourism Authority, raising questions about the use of official relationships. To improve transparency, Adams announced that all international sporting earnings will now be directed into a centralized Sports Fund. The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has denied direct involvement, noting that the CID is conducting an investigation to clarify misconceptions and hold responsible parties accountable.

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