Jakarta:The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has denied any involvement in alleged irregularities concerning Ghana's 2026 FIFA World Cup visa arrangements, asserting its innocence in the matter.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Ministry highlighted that an ongoing investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service aims to clarify misconceptions and ensure accountability for those involved in the scandal.
The controversy stems from allegations by the Minority in Parliament regarding the Ministry's role in the visa facilitation process involving the National Sports Authority, the Ghana Tourism Authority, and the private entity TRIBE Culture Fest. During a press conference, Mr. Wonder Sitsofe Mandel, a special aide to the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr. Kofi Iddie Adams, presented documents concerning interactions with the United States Embassy and other stakeholders.
Mr. Mandel stated that a correspondence dated January 28, 2026, indicated that the engagement between the National Sports Authority and TRIBE Culture Fest began prior to the request for ministerial support by Mr. Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, the suspended Director-General of the National Sports Authority. He added that the government had established an inter-agency coordination process to streamline travel arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A meeting with the US Embassy on April 9 aimed to clarify existing arrangements and propose a technical coordination framework for organizations wishing to send groups to support World Cup activities. This framework sought to enhance coordination and ensure applications followed the appropriate channels, although visa approval decisions remained the responsibility of the US Embassy.
Regarding the disputed list of 90 prospective travelers, the Ministry explained that the request originated from the National Sports Authority and was processed through established administrative channels. Mr. Mandel clarified that the forwarding of the request for technical review did not equate to selecting applicants, endorsing their eligibility, or guaranteeing visa approval.
He also refuted claims linking four applicants, whose employment details were questioned, to the subsequent list of 90 prospective travelers, noting that their case arose from separate correspondence sent directly to the US Embassy on March 18.
Mr. Mandel emphasized that no evidence had been presented to show that Mr. Kofi Adams, the sector Minister, had collected money from applicants, received commissions, or personally benefited from the arrangements. He stressed that allegations of unlawful payments, misrepresentation, or abuse of public office should be thoroughly investigated.
The Ministry of Sports and Recreation expressed its willingness to cooperate with the CID in its investigation and urged the public to allow the investigative process to establish the facts based on proper documentary evidence and verified findings, rather than unsubstantiated allegations.