Accra:A growing controversy surrounds Ghana's visa arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with serious allegations made regarding the submission of applicant names by state institutions. The Minority in Parliament has claimed that payments reaching up to US$14,000 were made, involving unverified personnel and allegedly fabricated job titles.
According to Ghana Web, the allegations implicate the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the National Sports Authority (NSA). The Minority is demanding a comprehensive investigation into the processes used to secure visas related to Ghana's World Cup activities.
During a press conference, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Ranking Member on the Youth and Sports Committee, asserted that individuals paid between US$7,000 and US$14,000 for visa processing. He identified two individuals, Chase and Diesel, as being involved in the collection of payments and visa processing.
Assafuah raised concerns about non-GTA staff allegedly being offered visa opportunities meant for activities associated with the Authority. He questioned why people outside the GTA were given access to these opportunities, demanding accountability from the CEO of the GTA.
The controversy further intensified when the Minority claimed that of the 50 names submitted by the GTA to the US Embassy as media personnel, only two were verified as professional media practitioners. The rest could not be confirmed as such.
Additionally, the Minority questioned the use of GTA's visa allocations, revealing that the CEO was allocated 400 US visa slots and another 600 by Canada. They demanded transparency regarding the number of visas issued and the status of the applications.
At the NSA, the Minority alleged that only 15 of 102 names submitted to the Canadian Embassy were verified as NSA personnel, with 87 names having questionable designations such as Operations Coordinator and World Cup Coordinator. The US Embassy's Fraud Prevention Unit had raised concerns about four applicants, seeking documentation to confirm their NSA employment.
The allegations have prompted President John Dramani Mahama to request former NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah to step aside, appointing Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong as acting Director-General. The NSA has denied any involvement in a visa facilitation scheme and is cooperating with the ongoing police investigation.
The Minority is advocating for a full investigation into the roles of officials and institutions involved, emphasizing that any criminal behavior uncovered should result in prosecution.