Ghana Rocked by World Cup Visa Fraud: Officials Implicated as Scandal Unfolds

The alleged visa fraud and irregularities surrounding Ghana's arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States and Canada have triggered a complex scandal involving various government institutions, officials, and private entities. This situation has led to significant public scrutiny, suspensions, ongoing investigations, and widespread calls for constitutional accountability.

The controversy first emerged with allegations from Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Member of Parliament for Old Tafo and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee. Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, October 10, Mr. Assafuah claimed that more than 30 individuals were misrepresented to the US Embassy as board members or affiliates of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in connection with World Cup engagements, despite the GTA board comprising only about 11 members. He further alleged that some individuals paid between US$7,000 and US$14,000 for visa processing linked to these activities. The Minority also questioned the verification of personnel lists submitted by the GTA and the National Sports Authority (NSA) to the US and Canadian embassies, noting that only two of 50 names submitted by the GTA as media personnel were verified as professional practitioners, and merely 15 of 102 names submitted by the NSA were confirmed as actual employees.

Reports indicate that approximately US$623,000 was collected from prospective travelers seeking assistance with visa and travel arrangements for the World Cup. Several victims spoke to JoySports, revealing payments ranging from $4,000 to $25,000 for visa application support through NSA officials. One victim, identified as Madam Joyce, recounted taking a loan of GH¢158,000 to secure visas for three applicants via an NSA staff member, who is reportedly now refunding the money in installments after the unsuccessful attempts.

Wonder Sitsofe Mandel, special aide to the Sports Minister, clarified that the US Embassy recognizes the NSA, Ghana Football Association (GFA), and GTA as separate entities eligible to submit visa applications independently, and that group applications are permitted when the number of applicants exceeds 10. Mr. Mandel stated that an engagement between the Ministry of Sports and the US Embassy on April 9, 2026, addressed visa application procedures and concerns about fraud. During this meeting, Sports Minister Kofi Adams reportedly alerted the embassy to an incident where someone allegedly impersonated him in an attempt to defraud another person. Subsequently, the embassy issued a diplomatic note proposing a technical working group, which met on April 24, 2026, to streamline visa application requests from state institutions and affiliated stakeholders.

Mr. Mandel challenged Mr. Assafuah’s account of correspondence, noting that the ministry’s response to the embassy, dated May 28, 2026, expanded an initial list of four applicants to 92. He emphasized that while legitimate procedures are in place, any individual found to have leveraged these processes to defraud Ghanaians or misrepresent people must face the law. He insisted that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is actively investigating the allegations and that the ministry will not shield anyone found to have unlawfully collected money, abused official processes, or benefited improperly. The Ministry of Sports and Recreation also provided a chronology of its engagements, citing correspondence dated January 28, 2026, which indicated that some arrangements connected to the World Cup fan experience predated its direct involvement.

The scandal escalated significantly with President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to suspend Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as Director-General of the NSA, pending investigations into the matter. Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong was subsequently appointed as acting Director-General. The Minority bloc has since demanded that the investigation be extended to other officials they allege played a role, calling for the removal and prosecution of the Sports Minister and the GTA Chief Executive if found culpable.

JoySports investigations further implicated Nana Gyamfi Awere, the NSA’s Chief Operations Officer (COO), alongside Mr. Ankrah. A letter signed by Mr. Awere and addressed to the Consular Section of the US Embassy on March 18, 2026, confirmed the appointment of four individuals as NSA staff members, assigning them roles that JoySports found to be non-existent within the Authority’s organizational structure. Crucially, these individuals were reportedly denied visas on March 16, 2026, two days before the letter confirming their employment was dated, raising serious questions about the timing and authenticity of the document. An email dated January 28, 2026, also referenced these applicants and their proposed travel arrangements.

In April 2026, Sports Minister Kofi Adams sought clarification from Mr. Ankrah regarding the identities of six individuals after the US Embassy contacted his office to verify their employment. Mr. Ankrah initially indicated on April 14 that he was unaware of a letter sent to the Embassy and denied knowing the six individuals. Consequently, these individuals were also denied visas after the Minister confirmed they were not employed by his Ministry. When the COO was confronted by the Minister, Mr. Awere allegedly claimed he had acted on Mr. Ankrah's instructions, who had denied knowledge of the arrangement. Mr. Ankrah later told the Minister that the individuals were auxiliary staff of the NSA, but this clarification came too late to reverse the outcome.

Earlier in the year, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, had contacted Mr. Ankrah concerning an office established at the NSA to facilitate visas for prospective World Cup travelers. JoySports confirmed the existence of this office, which was linked to partnerships involving the NSA, Tribe Culture Fest, and the GTA. On May 21, 2026, JoySports reported the arrest of NSA staff members over suspected visa fraud, with information indicating that some staff acted as agents, collecting money from unsuspecting Ghanaians and passing it to Tribe Culture Fest CEO Nana Boateng Gyimah to facilitate the process.

A petition filed with the CID by Nana Gyamfi Awere against Nana Boateng Gyimah and Yaw Ampofo Ankrah further deepened the controversy. Mr. Awere admitted to JoySports that he filed the petition, which alleges that Mr. Gyimah received $511,000 and Mr. Ankrah received $56,000 from him. In his petition, Mr. Awere detailed how Mr. Ankrah allegedly introduced him to Nana Boateng Gyimah of Tribe Culture Fest in August 2025 as someone capable of facilitating visas. According to Mr. Awere, Mr. Gyimah secured visas for Mr. Ankrah, himself, and six other NSA staff members in November 2025, after which Mr. Ankrah allegedly officially provided Mr. Gyimah an office at the Accra Sports Stadium to operate. Mr. Awere claimed that approximately 80% of the applicants who paid deposits through him to Mr. Gyimah were directed by Mr. Ankrah. Although Mr. Ankrah denied the allegations and knowledge of the petition, JoySports obtained recordings allegedly capturing Mr. Ankrah asking Mr. Awere to withdraw the petition from the CID and admitting to taking a visa money commission from Mr. Gyimah through Mr. Awere. Mr. Ankrah and Mr. Gyimah have reportedly been invited by the police to assist with investigations.

Sources familiar with the petition indicate that the $56,000 allegedly received by Mr. Ankrah as commission was expected to be returned to help refund applicants who had either been denied visas or had not secured interview dates, but Mr. Ankrah has reportedly been reluctant to return the money. Mr. Awere stated he has already refunded over 70% of the commission he received and committed to paying the remainder to the CID, while approximately $511,000 allegedly remains with Tribe Culture Fest. A significant number of applicants paid substantial sums but were either denied visas or never received interview dates, leading to strong demands for refunds.

Senyo Hosi, Convener of the OneGhana Movement, has strongly urged that the controversy be treated as a test of constitutional accountability rather than a political debate over the Sports Minister’s resignation. Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, he expressed disappointment over Ghana’s apparent repetition of past mistakes, warning of severe implications for the country’s reputation, public trust, and the values imparted to future generations. He asserted that the matter transcends mere visa processing, focusing instead on whether public officials and administrative bodies are upholding principles of probity, accountability, and compliance with the rule of law, citing Article 232 of the 1992 Constitution.

Mr. Hosi implored President John Dramani Mahama to ensure a thorough investigation, warning that failure to address the wrongdoing would lead to a “two-time disgrace” to his presidency. He cautioned against making the Sports Minister the sole focus, arguing that officials might reasonably rely on information provided by state institutions. Instead, the focus should be on establishing the facts, upholding constitutional standards, and ensuring accountability for those who leveraged public office to facilitate alleged fraud and unlawfully collect money from citizens.

Adding to the complexity, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a letter signed by Chief Director Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, clarified that it is responsible for transmitting names from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to diplomatic missions for visa applications. The letter explicitly stated that employees of affiliated entities not traveling in an official capacity are not entitled to official visas. Despite this clear directive, the Ministry of Sports issued a cover letter supporting the NSA’s request for 90 individuals described as “volunteers/event coordinators” for World Cup activities, many of whom paid substantial sums but ultimately failed to obtain visas or appointment dates.

The allegations remain subject to the ongoing CID investigation, with the full circumstances, responsibility for any wrongdoing, and the process for outstanding refunds contingent upon the responses of the named individuals, the documentary evidence, and the final findings of the police investigation. The outcome is anticipated to have significant implications for public trust and accountability in Ghana.