The Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI) is investigating the suspended National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah for alleged visa scheme. He is being probed for alleged visa facilitation scheme involving individuals who sought to travel to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The investigation followed allegations that more than US$600,000 was collected from individuals seeking assistance with visa and travel arrangements for the tournament.
The Minority in Parliament through its Ranking Member of Parliament’s Committee on Youth and Sports; MP for Old Tafo, Mr. Vincent Ekow Assafuah had alleged that some applicants were charged as much as US$8,000 under the arrangement.
Mr Ampofo Ankrah and other NSA officials were subsequently questioned by security authorities as part of investigations into the allegations.
The NSA has denied authorising any visa facilitation or money-collection scheme and said its legal team is cooperating with the investigation.
The development comes after Mr Ampofo Ankrah was removed from his position as Director-General of the NSA, with Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong appointed Acting Director-General.
Prof. Sarpong, an Associate Professor of Physical Education and Sports at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), takes over the Authority as scrutiny of its operations intensifies.
Mr Ampofo Ankrah’s removal follows President John Dramani Mahama’s dissolution of the NSA’s governing board on September 2, 2026.
He had been a member of the dissolved board but continued to oversee the Authority’s day-to-day operations after the board was disbanded.
