The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for the immediate removal of the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) over alleged irregularities in visa arrangements linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The party is demanding an independent investigation into the controversy, alleging that public institutions were used to facilitate visa applications for individuals who were not their employees, with more than US$600,000 reportedly collected from applicants.
At a press conference on Thursday, October 15, 2026, the NPP’s National Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, said the suspension or removal of National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah was insufficient to address the allegations, insisting that investigations must extend to every official and institution whose role is questioned.
The party also called on the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to join the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in investigating the matter and tracing the money allegedly collected from applicants.
According to the NPP, documents presented by the Minority in Parliament raise questions about the involvement of the NSA, the GTA, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and a private entity, TRIBE Culture Fest, in the visa arrangements.
The controversy centres on allegations that the names, letterheads and credibility of Ghanaian public institutions were used to present private individuals as public officers to the United States and Canadian diplomatic missions.
The party cited a January 19, 2026, supplementary arrangement between the NSA and TRIBE Culture Fest, which allegedly set visa-processing fees at US$3,000 per person for the United States and US$2,000 for Canada for individuals described as NSA personnel.
It further alleged that an NSA communication to the US Embassy on January 28, 2026, listed 22 people as staff members, including individuals occupying positions that the party claims did not exist or were not held by the named applicants.
The NPP also cited correspondence dated May 28, 2026, in which the Ministry of Sports and Recreation reportedly requested ministerial support and visa facilitation consideration for NSA volunteers and event coordinators, forwarding a list of about 90 names.
In another development, the party said a list of 102 applicants submitted to the Canadian Embassy on June 8, 2026, contained only 15 people verified as NSA personnel, while the remaining 87 were allegedly not employees of the Authority.
These claims, the NPP argued, raise questions about the verification procedures used by the institutions involved and the extent of official oversight over the arrangements.
NPP questions government’s response
Mr Aboagye criticised the government’s handling of the matter, arguing that the response had focused on defending individual officials rather than providing a comprehensive account of how the arrangements were organised and who was responsible.
He also questioned the circumstances surrounding the action taken against Mr Ampofo Ankrah, noting that differing official accounts had described his status as either dismissed or suspended pending investigations.
The party wants the Presidency to clarify the NSA Director-General’s employment status and disclose what action has been taken against other officials named in the correspondence.
It is also demanding that Parliament summon the Sports Minister and the GTA chief executive to answer questions about their institutions’ involvement, while allowing the Youth and Sports Committee to conduct a public inquiry.
The NPP further called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to brief the public on engagements with the US and Canadian diplomatic missions and explain what measures are being taken to protect Ghana’s international reputation and the interests of legitimate travellers.
Applicants demand protection and refunds
The opposition party has also called for measures to protect individuals who allegedly paid money under the arrangements, urging authorities to invite affected applicants to come forward without fear.
It wants any money recovered from the investigation to be returned to those who can establish that they made payments.
The party also called for the publication of key documents, including agreements between the NSA and TRIBE Culture Fest, arrangements involving the GTA, lists submitted to the foreign missions and the Ministry’s May 28 letter.
It said a clear timeline should be announced for the investigation, with a public report issued at its conclusion.
NPP links visa controversy to World Cup ticket allegations
The party has further linked the visa controversy to separate allegations surrounding the sale of tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mr Aboagye cited figures presented by the Sports Minister to Parliament indicating that the state spent approximately US$1.26 million on 2,922 match tickets, some intended for Ghanaian students and supporters.
He alleged that some tickets purchased with public funds were subsequently resold to students and supporters, promising that the party would release further details about the alleged transactions.
The NPP maintained that the visa allegations should not be treated as an isolated administrative matter, arguing that the involvement of multiple public institutions warrants a broader investigation.
However, the allegations remain subject to investigation, and the claims made by the NPP do not establish criminal wrongdoing by any of the officials or institutions mentioned.
The party said it would continue to pursue the matter through Parliament and other public platforms until the circumstances surrounding the visa arrangements were fully established and anyone found culpable was held accountable.
