Bangkok:The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has provided an account of the sequence of engagements involving TRIBE Culture Fest, the National Sports Authority (NSA), and diplomatic missions amid the ongoing controversy over visa arrangements related to the World Cup.
According to Ghana Web, the Ministry stated that interactions involving TRIBE Culture Fest and the NSA began months before it became involved in forwarding a request concerning NSA volunteers and event coordinators in May 2026. The Ministry highlighted correspondence dated January 28, 2026, in which Yaw Gyamfi Kusi Awere communicated with the United States Embassy regarding 'NSA Staff Appointments,' with TRIBE-related individuals copied on the emails.
The Ministry emphasized that TRIBE Culture Fest was actively participating within the broader World Cup fan-experience framework, collaborating with diplomatic missions, the NSA, the Ghana Tourism Authority, and additional stakeholders. The January correspondence was significant for establishing the timeline of events, preceding the Ministry's later request transmission in May.
The Ministry clarified that it did not intend to defend TRIBE or the NSA, stressing that any misconduct within these arrangements should be investigated. The purpose of its statement was to establish the chronology and counter the impression that all related engagements originated from the Sports Minister's office.
Public attention has been drawn to the processes involving individuals and organizations in arrangements linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. By referencing the January correspondence, the Ministry aimed to distinguish earlier engagements involving TRIBE and the NSA from its subsequent role.
The Ministry reiterated that any allegations of wrongdoing should be thoroughly investigated, while insisting on the importance of clearly establishing the timeline as public scrutiny continues.