The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for the resignation or removal of the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) over allegations of misrepresentation and financial irregularities in a World Cup visa arrangement involving the National Sports Authority (NSA) and private entity TRIBE Culture Fest.
In a press statement issued by its National Communications Directorate and signed by National Communications Director Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the party accused the Mahama-led government of treating the controversy as an administrative issue rather than a national governance scandal requiring independent investigations.
The NPP said the allegations involved the use of public institutions’ names, letterheads and credibility to present individuals who were allegedly not public officers as staff of state agencies to the embassies of the United States and Canada.
The party said the controversy had raised concerns about Ghana’s international reputation, the integrity of public institutions and the potential exploitation of citizens seeking visas to travel for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The statement follows the presentation of a 49-page account of the allegations by the Minority in Parliament, through the Ranking Member on the Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, on October 7, 2026.
According to the NPP, Mr Assafuah had, as of October 15, petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and the Presidency, seeking accountability and the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry.
The party said the petitions underscored the need for an independent investigation to establish the facts, identify those involved and ensure that anyone found culpable was held accountable.
NPP cites documents in visa controversy
The NPP said documents cited in the Minority’s account included a June 2, 2025, memorandum of understanding between the NSA and TRIBE Culture Fest, which allegedly granted the private entity exclusive operational access to NSA facilities.
It also cited a supplementary arrangement dated January 19, 2026, under which the NSA allegedly agreed to pay TRIBE US$3,000 per person for United States visa processing and US$2,000 for Canadian visa processing.
The party said the arrangement specifically covered NSA personnel, with payments reportedly due regardless of whether applicants obtained visas.
The statement further alleged that an email sent by the NSA’s Chief Operating Officer to the US Embassy on January 28, 2026, introduced 22 people as NSA staff, including individuals described as a board secretary and procurement officers whose appointments or positions were questioned.
The NPP also referred to an alleged March 18, 2026, communication in which the US Embassy’s Fraud Prevention Unit flagged four applicants whose stated positions did not exist at the NSA and requested proof of employment.
According to the party, the NSA responded with a letter confirming their appointments.
The NPP further cited a May 28, 2026, letter from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation to the US Embassy requesting ministerial support and visa facilitation for NSA volunteers and event coordinators. The letter reportedly transmitted approximately 90 names.
It also referred to a list of 102 applicants submitted to the Canadian Embassy on June 8, 2026, claiming that only 15 had been verified as NSA personnel, while the remaining 87 were not verified.
The allegations have not, in themselves, established criminal liability, and the individuals and institutions concerned are entitled to due process.
NPP questions Ministry’s response
The opposition party rejected the Ministry of Sports and Recreation’s reported explanation that forwarding the list to the US Embassy amounted to a technical review rather than an endorsement of the applicants.
It argued that the wording of the Ministry’s letter, which requested ministerial support and visa facilitation, required further explanation about the checks conducted before the names were submitted.
The NPP also questioned the Ministry’s claim that genuine NSA and Ministry staff were processed through a separate diplomatic channel, demanding clarification on the identities and employment status of the individuals included on the disputed list.
It further challenged the Ministry’s reported argument that there was no evidence the Sports Minister benefited financially, insisting that investigators, rather than the Minister’s representatives, should establish whether any wrongdoing occurred.
The party said the Minister’s reported recommendation that the NSA Director-General step aside pending investigations should also apply to other officials whose roles were under scrutiny.
The NPP also criticised the Ghana Tourism Authority’s October 9 statement, arguing that it failed to address questions about its relationship with TRIBE Culture Fest, the funds allegedly committed to the arrangement and the visa applications reportedly submitted through the process.
Over US$600,000 allegedly collected
The NPP said applicants were alleged to have paid between US$8,000 and US$14,000 each, despite the reported contractual rates of US$3,000 for US visa processing and US$2,000 for Canadian visa processing.
It cited media reports indicating that more than US$600,000 may have been collected, adding that the funds should be traced and accounted for.
The party also raised concerns that some individuals who travelled under the arrangement had reportedly not returned to Ghana.
It argued that the allegations went beyond an internal sports administration matter because the use of official documents to present private individuals as public officers could undermine Ghana’s credibility with foreign diplomatic missions.
The NPP warned that the controversy could have consequences for ordinary Ghanaians applying for study, business, family and tourism visas, as well as genuine athletes and sports officials.
It called on the government to explain what engagement had taken place with the US and Canadian missions to address the concerns and protect Ghanaian travellers from potential fallout.
NPP outlines demands
The party has demanded that the Sports Minister and the GTA chief executive step aside or be relieved of their positions pending a full investigation.
It also called for the formal involvement of the OSP and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), alongside the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), to investigate the allegations and trace payments made by applicants.
The NPP further wants the Presidency to clarify whether NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah was dismissed or suspended and to disclose what action has been taken against other officials named in the correspondence.
It has called on Parliament to summon the Sports Minister and the GTA chief executive to answer questions and allow the Youth and Sports Committee to conduct a public inquiry.
The party also wants the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to brief the public on its engagement with the US and Canadian diplomatic missions.
Other demands include the publication of the NSA-TRIBE memorandum of understanding, the supplementary arrangement, the GTA-TRIBE agreement, the lists submitted to both embassies and the Ministry’s May 28 letter.
The NPP further urged authorities to protect applicants who allegedly paid money under the arrangement, facilitate the recovery of funds where appropriate and announce a timeline for completing the investigation.
Party links visa scandal to World Cup ticket allegations
The NPP also linked the visa controversy to separate allegations surrounding the sale of tickets for Ghanaian supporters at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
It cited figures attributed to the Sports Minister indicating that the state spent approximately US$1.26 million on 2,922 match tickets, some intended for Ghanaian students and supporters.
The party alleged that some tickets purchased with public funds were subsequently resold to students and supporters who had expected to benefit from the allocation.
It said it would release further details about the distribution and alleged resale of the tickets, including the individuals involved and the movement of the money.
The claims concerning the tickets and the visa arrangements require independent verification.
In its conclusion, the NPP said it did not seek to convict anyone through a press statement and acknowledged that all persons named were entitled to the presumption of innocence.
However, it insisted that the investigation must be independent, transparent and extended to every level of responsibility.
“Ghana’s name is not for sale. Not at the US Embassy, not at the Canadian High Commission, and not anywhere else,” the statement said.
