Nana Boateng Gyimah, Chief Executive Officer of Tribe Culture Fest, has issued a strongly worded public statement categorically denying claims by Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams that he or his organisation illegally received US$611,000 linked to 2026 FIFA World Cup visa and travel arrangements and is avoiding a refund.
In a press release dated October 12, 2026, Gyimah stated: “I categorically deny the allegations attributed to the Minister for Sports, Hon. Kofi Adams, that Tribe Culture Fest or I illegally received US$611,000 and avoiding a refund.”
He emphasised that Tribe Culture’s agreements were solely with the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA). “Neither Tribe Culture Fest nor I received the alleged US$611,000 from any private individual in connection with the arrangements in question,” the statement read.
Gyimah challenged the Minister to produce supporting evidence, including any agreement, authorisation or consent involving him or Tribe Culture that establishes the alleged financial arrangement, as well as verifiable payment records showing who paid the money, who received it, when it was paid, and how the US$611,000 figure was determined.
“My reputation and the integrity of Tribe Culture must not be undermined by unsubstantiated public accusations,” he said, calling on Adams to either substantiate the claims or withdraw them and correct the public record — or face legal action from his lawyers.
Background to the controversy
The exchange forms the latest chapter in a widening scandal surrounding alleged irregularities in visa facilitation for Ghanaians seeking to travel to the United States, Canada and Mexico for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Tribe Culture Fest is a private platform that combines sports, culture and tourism. In March 2026, it partnered with the Ghana Tourism Authority to launch the “16 by 16” initiative — a nationwide project to establish free public viewing centres and cultural activations across all 16 regions of Ghana during the tournament.
The company also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Sports Authority in June 2025 for World Cup-related activities, including visa processing, accommodation and logistics support. According to Minority claims, these arrangements set institutional rates of US$3,000 per person for US visas and US$2,000 for Canadian visas.
Allegations first gained public traction in September 2026 when the Minority in Parliament, led by Old Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah (Ranking Member on the Youth and Sports Committee), accused the NSA of involvement in a scheme in which members of the public were charged significant sums — reportedly ranging from US$7,000 to US$14,000 in some cases — for visa facilitation.
The Minority claimed that individuals were presented to the US and Canadian embassies under false or unverifiable institutional titles (including non-existent NSA positions and inflated GTA board memberships). One widely cited figure put the total amount collected at around US$600,000–US$623,000.
The controversy led to the suspension (later clarified as removal) of NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah in early October 2026, pending a Criminal Investigations Department (CID) probe. Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong was appointed Acting Director-General.
The Minority later expanded its demands, calling for the dismissal or suspension of Sports Minister Kofi Adams and GTA CEO Maame Efua Houadjeto, citing documentary trails, including lists of names submitted to embassies, MOUs with Tribe Culture Fest, and alleged misrepresentations.
On 11 October 2026, during a television interview, Minister Kofi Adams pointed to Nana Boateng Gyimah as a central figure. Adams alleged that the Tribe Culture Fest CEO had illegally collected approximately US$611,000 under arrangements with the NSA to transport Ghanaians to the World Cup and was now pushing alternative narratives to avoid refunding the money.
The Minister warned that the CEO “cannot run away with $611,000 of people’s money” and called for appropriate criminal action if deception was established. Adams also claimed that Gyimah had been feeding information to the Minority to divert attention from the refund issue. Separately, Adams stated that the US Embassy had introduced Tribe Culture Fest to the NSA and GTA.
Gyimah’s statement on 12 October is a direct rebuttal of those specific claims. He maintains that any agreements were institutional (with the NSA and GTA only) and that neither he nor his company received the disputed sum from private individuals.
Key figures
- Nana Boateng Gyimah: CEO of Tribe Culture Fest. Publicly associated with the “16 by 16” World Cup fan experience project and the company’s partnerships with state agencies.
- Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams: Minister for Sports and Recreation since February 2025. Member of Parliament for Buem Constituency (Oti Region), former National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and a former spokesperson for the late President Jerry John Rawlings. Born 2 May 1975 in Teteman.
- Vincent Ekow Assafuah: MP for Old Tafo and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee. Has led the Minority’s public presentations of documents and demands for accountability.
- Yaw Ampofo Ankrah: Former NSA Director-General, suspended/removed pending investigation into the visa arrangements.
The matter remains under active investigation by the CID. No independent verification of the US$611,000 figure or of any specific payments to Gyimah or Tribe Culture Fest has been publicly established at the time of writing. Both the Minister and the CEO have called for evidence and accountability — from opposite directions.
The scandal continues to raise broader questions about transparency in the use of state institutions for private travel facilitation ahead of major international events, the accuracy of information submitted to foreign embassies, and the handling of funds collected from the public.
