Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has defended his handling of visa arrangements for Ghanaian supporters and officials ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that he only became aware of the process after receiving a letter dated May 19.
The Buem MP’s response comes amid calls by the Minority in Parliament for his dismissal and prosecution over alleged irregularities surrounding the arrangements, which have attracted scrutiny following the suspension of National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.
Adams, however, has denied prior knowledge of the arrangements, arguing that the National Sports Authority, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), United States Embassy and TRIBE Culture Fest dealt with the process without the ministry’s involvement.
Speaking to Citi News, the minister said he saw no justification for calls for his removal, maintaining that his ministry had not been informed about the activities until the letter requesting the names of event coordinators and volunteers was received.
“Well, I don’t see the justification. Both the American Embassy and TRIBE Culture Fest, the NSA and the GTA were doing their thing behind the Ministry. The Ministry didn’t know,” he said.
According to Adams, the May 19 letter requesting that the names be forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy marked his first substantive engagement with the matter.
“The first time I ever sat and had a conversation in relation to that matter was when the May 19 letter requested the forwarding of event coordinators and volunteers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy. That’s when I got to know the details of what was happening,” he stated.
The minister said his involvement was limited to forwarding the correspondence through the appropriate administrative channels and denied having prior knowledge of the alleged financial transactions associated with the arrangements.
He also rejected suggestions that public funds had been lost, declaring: “Government money has not been lost.”
The controversy has raised questions about the roles played by the various institutions and individuals involved in the World Cup-related visa arrangements, as well as the level of oversight exercised over the process.
While the Minority is demanding accountability from the Sports Minister, Adams maintains that he should not be held responsible for arrangements undertaken without his ministry’s knowledge.
The competing positions have placed the handling of the visa process under increased scrutiny, with questions remaining about the nature of the arrangements, the alleged financial transactions and the responsibilities of the institutions involved.
