Minority demands dismissal of Kofi Adams over US$623,000 visa scandal

The Minority in Parliament, led by Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has called for the immediate dismissal of the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Maame Efua Houadjeto. This demand arises from a growing controversy over alleged financial irregularities and procedural breaches involving visa facilitation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Central to the allegations is an estimated US$623,000 in visa facilitation fees purportedly collected through improper channels involving state institutions.

Investigations into the matter suggest a widening scandal involving both the GTA and the National Sports Authority (NSA). According to the Minority, some applicants were allegedly charged fees as high as US$14,000. Furthermore, the parliamentary group claims that these state agencies submitted names of individuals with unverified identities and non-existent job titles to facilitate travel arrangements. These discrepancies have sparked concerns regarding the integrity of the visa procurement process for the upcoming international tournament.

In response to the accusations, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation has defended Kofi Adams, with his Special Assistant describing the Minority's claims as "baseless and noisy." Despite this defense, the government has signaled a willingness to take action if wrongdoing is proven. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim indicated that the Minister would be required to step aside if the ongoing investigations find him culpable, emphasizing that the Presidency is awaiting the final report of the probe before taking further steps.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service is currently spearheading the inquiry into the visa arrangements. The legal complexities of the case have already impacted parliamentary proceedings; former NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah recently deferred a scheduled appearance before Parliament. His lawyer, Jerry Avenorgbor, explained that his client would refrain from making public comments while the CID investigation is active.

Meanwhile, Ernest Norgbey, Chairman of Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee, has urged politicians to refrain from interference and allow the CID to conduct its work independently. He stressed the importance of a neutral investigation to uncover the facts behind the US$623,000 payment allegations. As the probe continues, the focus remains on whether the administrative processes of the NSA and GTA were compromised for private gain or if the allegations are, as the Ministry suggests, without merit.