A heated row has engulfed Ghana's 2026 FIFA World Cup travel arrangements, with Parliament's Minority alleging that officials facilitated US visas for non-employees presented as sports-authority staff and "media personnel" — at fees of $7,000 to $14,000 per applicant — in a scandal now under Ghana Police CID investigation.
The allegations
MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Ranking Member on Parliament's Youth and Sports Committee, claims the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) submitted a list of 50 "media personnel" to the US Embassy, of which the embassy's Fraud Prevention Unit verified only 2 as genuine media practitioners. Of 102 names submitted by the National Sports Authority (NSA), only 15 were confirmed as actual employees, he alleges.
Assafuah further claims that more than 30 people were listed as GTA board members — though the authority has roughly 11 board members — and that fake positions were invented within the NSA's organizational structure. A $623,000 visa facilitation fee sits at the center of the controversy, according to the Minority's claims.
Suspensions and denials
President John Mahama suspended NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah pending the CID investigation; on October 8, Ankrah declined a Parliament summons through his lawyer, saying appearing could prejudice the probe.
Sports Minister Kofi Adams, through aide Wonder Mandel, denied any ministry involvement. GTA CEO Maame Efua Houadjeto denied soliciting payments in an October 9 statement. Meanwhile, Ghana Social Investment Fund CEO Abass Nurudeen accused the Minority of "scandal scavenging" for political points on JoyNews' Newsfile on October 10. Activist Senyo Hosi of the OneGhana Movement described the affair as public office being used to facilitate fraud.
What the Minority is demanding
The Minority has demanded Sports Minister Adams' dismissal and prosecution, along with the removal of the GTA CEO, arguing that ordinary Ghanaians were defrauded and the country's World Cup preparations tainted. The government side insists the allegations are unproven and politically motivated, and that accountability can only attach where evidence establishes wrongdoing.
Closing takeaway
With the CID investigation ongoing and both camps digging in, Ghana's World Cup visa scandal has become a test of accountability ahead of the 2026 tournament. Whether the allegations lead to dismissals, prosecutions, or dismissal of the claims themselves now rests on what the investigation uncovers.
Music in this post's reel: Kevin MacLeod - Hitman (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0
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