Minority Demands Dismissal of NSA Boss Over $600,000 World Cup Visa Scandal and GH¢58m Expenditure

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has intensified calls for the immediate dismissal or suspension of Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, the Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), following allegations of a mass visa-facilitation fraud linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is currently questioning Ankrah and several NSA staff members over a scheme that reportedly generated approximately $600,000. Allegations suggest that individuals were charged up to $8,000 each for travel assistance, involving a private entity operating within state facilities. The Minority, led by Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Ranking Member of the Youth and Sports Committee, has urged President John Mahama to take decisive action against the NSA leadership to maintain the integrity of the sector while investigations proceed.

In addition to the visa racketeering allegations, the Minority is challenging the government’s assertion that all 431 state-sponsored individuals who traveled for the tournament have returned to Ghana. Specifically, the Caucus has raised concerns regarding the whereabouts of a driver for the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, and a secretary from the Ministry’s Chief Director’s office, both of whom are allegedly still in the United States. To ensure transparency, the Minority has demanded that the Ministry publicly release the names and passport numbers of all sponsored travelers. While the government maintains that no formal notifications of visa overstays have been received from U.S. or Canadian authorities, the Minority insists that documentary evidence is required to verify these claims.

Financial accountability has also become a focal point of the controversy, with the Minority demanding a line-by-line account of the GH¢58.9 million allocated by the government for World Cup participation. Furthermore, they are seeking a full reconciliation of the GH¢115 million raised through corporate and private fundraising campaigns for the Black Stars. Assafuah emphasized that contributors and the Ghanaian public deserve to know how these resources were utilized, including details on ticket purchases, accommodation, and supporter mobilization. The Caucus has called for the Ministry of Sports and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to provide a comprehensive breakdown of all operational expenses and recipient accounts.

Minister for Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams has dismissed the allegations of overstaying as misinformation, stating that discussions with U.S. Embassy officials have remained positive and focused on early preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games. The NSA has also denied any wrongdoing, asserting that it did not authorize the alleged private visa services and is cooperating fully with the police. As the CID investigation continues, the political pressure on the Mahama administration to provide a full financial and personnel audit of the 2026 World Cup campaign remains high, with the Minority vowing to pursue the matter until total transparency is achieved.