Siena:The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has accused Nana Boateng Gyimah, the Chief Executive Officer of Tribe Culture Fest, of orchestrating visa fraud allegations to distract from his own financial misconduct. Adams claims Gyimah has been feeding false information to Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, to divert attention from $611,000 that Gyimah allegedly obtained under a fraudulent agreement with the National Sports Authority (NSA) to facilitate Ghanaians' travel to the 2026 World Cup.
According to Ghana Web, Adams has called for accountability, asserting that Gyimah cannot abscond with the money and that legal action should be pursued if deception is proven. The controversy also involves a list of 90 people submitted for visa processing, which Adams discussed in an interview with TV3 on October 11, 2026.
Adams revealed communication with the US Embassy regarding a separate submission of four individuals purported to be NSA staff. Upon investigation, these individuals were found not to be NSA employees, leading Adams to clarify their status with the embassy. He emphasized that this earlier submission was distinct from the current list of 90 people.
The minister dismissed claims of misrepresentation among the 90 names, stating that they were identified as event coordinators and facilitation personnel. He noted no formal complaints from the embassy, NSA, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding any misrepresentation.
Adams provided further details on visa processing, stating that out of 1,023 applications, 441 visas were issued. He clarified that the ministry's role was limited to facilitating submissions, and it did not influence visa approval decisions. Adams underscored that not all ministry officials were granted visas, indicating that refusals did not imply misrepresentation.
The allegations of financial misconduct and the handling of visa arrangements remain topics of scrutiny, and Adams highlighted the need to differentiate between the distinct lists involved in the ongoing investigation.