The controversy surrounding Ghana’s arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has deepened following fresh allegations by the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, concerning the National Sports Authority (NSA), Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), TRIBE Culture Fest and officials within the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, Mr Assafuah alleged that newly surfaced documents point to possible misuse of institutional credibility in engagements with foreign missions in connection with visa arrangements for Ghanaians seeking to travel to the World Cup.
His latest allegations come days after the removal of NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, following controversy over an alleged visa facilitation arrangement. The Minority had previously called for Mr Ankrah to step aside while investigations into the matter continued.
Mr Assafuah, however, said the removal of the former NSA boss should not bring the matter to an end.
“The dismissal of Yaw Ampofo Ankrah does not, by itself, resolve the issues before us. Accountability cannot end with one individual.”
Alleged Embassy Arrangements
According to documents presented by the Minority, the process allegedly began with an engagement involving the United States Embassy, TRIBE Culture Fest, the NSA and the Ghana Tourism Authority.
The Minority claims that following the engagement, the US and Canadian missions allocated 600 and 400 visa slots respectively to the GTA and NSA, purportedly for staff and affiliates travelling for promotional, cultural and World Cup-related activities.
The claims could not independently be established from the documents cited at the press conference.
NSA-TRIBE Agreement
Mr Assafuah also raised questions about a reported June 2, 2025 Memorandum of Understanding between the NSA and TRIBE Culture Fest concerning Ghana’s 2026 World Cup activities.
According to the Minority, the agreement provided TRIBE Culture Fest with operational access to NSA facilities for approved activities.
The allegation raises questions about the extent to which a private entity was permitted to operate within public sports facilities and the nature of the arrangement between the parties.
Questions Over Visa Charges
The Minority further alleged that TRIBE Culture Fest had a separate arrangement with the GTA to facilitate visa processing and accommodation support for GTA personnel travelling to the United States and Canada.
According to the claims, the GTA was expected to pay approximately US$3,000 per person for US visa-related arrangements and US$2,000 for Canadian arrangements.
However, Mr Assafuah alleged that some individuals who were not GTA or NSA employees were charged substantially higher amounts, with figures allegedly ranging from US$7,000 to US$14,000 per person.
Earlier reports had also cited allegations that some prospective travellers were charged as much as US$8,000 and that more than US$600,000 may have been collected in connection with the arrangement. The allegations remain subject to investigation.
Questions Over GTA Media List
The Minority also questioned a list of 50 individuals reportedly submitted by the GTA to the US Embassy as media personnel for World Cup-related activities.
Mr Assafuah alleged that verification by the US Embassy’s Fraud Prevention Unit identified only two of the individuals—Philip Narh and Andy Dosty, both associated with Multimedia—as identifiable media practitioners.
The Minority further alleged that some individuals on the list had paid substantial sums in connection with the World Cup arrangements.
These claims have not been independently established and are among the matters the Minority says require investigation.
Alleged Misrepresentation of NSA Positions
Fresh questions were also raised over documents allegedly submitted to foreign missions identifying individuals as NSA officials.
According to Mr Assafuah, an email sent to the US Embassy on January 28, 2026, introduced 22 people as NSA personnel.
He alleged that some of the positions assigned to individuals did not correspond with positions on the NSA’s organisational structure.
The Minority cited examples including an alleged presentation of Comfort Ahiadome as Board Secretary, as well as other positions which it says do not exist within the NSA structure.
The Minority further claimed that on March 18, 2026, the US Embassy’s Fraud Prevention Unit flagged four applicants whose stated positions allegedly raised concerns. They were identified as Ralph Egyir Quianoo, Belinda Tsey, Francis Frimpong Agyemang and Beryl Joycelyn Baabe Duut.
The Minority said the Embassy subsequently requested employment documentation, after which the NSA allegedly submitted a letter confirming their appointments.
Canadian Embassy List
Mr Assafuah also questioned a list of 102 persons reportedly submitted to the Canadian Embassy by the NSA on June 8, 2026.
According to the Minority’s account, only 15 of the 102 individuals could be verified as NSA personnel, leaving questions about the identities and institutional status of the remaining 87 people.
The Minority also cited alleged discrepancies involving individuals presented as Sports Development, Security and Protocol and Procurement Officers.
Seven Questions for the Authorities
Mr Assafuah said the Minority wants the relevant institutions to provide answers to a number of questions, including:
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How many GTA staff obtained visas under the reported arrangement?
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How many of the 400 US and 600 Canadian visa slots were actually utilised?
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How many applications were successful or rejected?
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Who authorised the engagement between the public institutions and TRIBE Culture Fest?
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What contractual obligations existed between the parties, and what was delivered?
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Who are the individuals identified as “Chase” and “Diesel”, who were allegedly involved in the visa-processing arrangements?
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Was a visa-processing operation established at or around NSA facilities?
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What action was taken following concerns reportedly raised by GTA directors over accountability?
Call for Wider Accountability
Mr Assafuah stressed that the removal of the former NSA Director-General should be viewed as only one part of the accountability process.
He said any official found to have breached administrative rules should face the appropriate sanctions, while evidence of criminal conduct should be referred to the relevant law-enforcement and prosecutorial authorities.
The Minority is now calling for further scrutiny of the roles played by officials of the NSA, GTA, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and TRIBE Culture Fest.
The controversy comes as investigations into the wider World Cup visa arrangements continue. The NSA has previously denied authorising any visa facilitation or money-collection arrangement and said it would cooperate with lawful investigations.
For now, the allegations raised by Mr Assafuah remain claims requiring verification through the ongoing investigations and responses from the institutions and individuals named.
