Bangkok:The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has stated that no evidence has been found to prove that Sports Minister Kofi Adams personally received financial benefits from alleged irregularities related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup visa scandal.
According to Ghana Web, Adams has been under scrutiny with demands from the Minority in Parliament for his immediate dismissal and prosecution due to his alleged involvement in the scandal. The controversy involves the payment of approximately $623,000 in visa facilitation fees for Ghana's arrangements for supporters and officials traveling to the tournament hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The Ministry emphasized that institutional correspondence regarding visa applications should not automatically be considered as evidence of personal financial gain by the minister. The statement clarified that no evidence has surfaced indicating that Adams collected money from applicants or benefited financially from the arrangements.
The Ministry acknowledged potential wrongdoing in aspects of the World Cup travel arrangements but insisted that evidence-based investigations are necessary to establish responsibility. It called for investigations into the National Sports Authority, the Ghana Tourism Authority, TRIBE Culture Fest, and individuals linked to the arrangements.
The statement also stressed that anyone found to have unlawfully collected money, supplied false information, or abused a public position should be held accountable. Meanwhile, the Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Yam Ampofo Ankrah, has been suspended amid the ongoing investigations.