The Minority in Parliament has renewed pressure on the government to account for alleged irregularities in visa arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, demanding sanctions against those implicated and the resignation of Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the caucus was awaiting a response from the government following revelations about alleged visa racketeering involving individuals seeking to travel to the tournament.
He maintained that the Minority had brought significant concerns surrounding the visa acquisition process to public attention and expected the authorities to take appropriate action.
Speaking at the inauguration of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Central Regional Council, Mr Afenyo-Markin reiterated the caucus’s position that the Sports Minister should step down over the controversy.
“Your caucus has also exposed the rot in the recent World Cup visa acquisition. The visa racketeering scandal, we also await government action and call on the Sports Minister to resign,” he stated.
The Minority had previously called for Parliament to summon Mr Adams and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Maame Efua Houadjeto, to explain their institutions’ respective roles in the arrangements.
The controversy centres on allegations that more than US$600,000 was collected from individuals seeking visa and travel assistance for the tournament, with some applicants reportedly paying between US$7,000 and US$14,000.
The allegations have prompted investigations by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to establish the circumstances surrounding the payments and determine whether any wrongdoing occurred.
As part of the developments, the Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has been suspended pending the outcome of investigations.
Both the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Ghana Tourism Authority have denied wrongdoing, maintaining that their involvement in the arrangements did not include collecting money in exchange for visa approvals.
The Minority is now insisting that the government publicly addresses the allegations and takes action against anyone found culpable.
