The Minority in Parliament has called for the removal of Sports and Recreation Minister, Honourable Kofi Adams and Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Maame Afua Houadjeto over alleged irregularities surrounding Ghana’s visa arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The demand was made by the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee and Old Tafo MP, Honourable Vincent Ekow Assafuah, during a press conference on Wednesday.
Honourable Assafuah emphasised that the suspension of National Sports Authority Director General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah should not mark the end of official accountability over the controversy. He added that the circumstances surrounding the visa arrangements warrant scrutiny of other officials whose institutions allegedly participated in the process.
“We therefore call for the immediate dismissal of Hon. Kofi Adams, the Minister for Sports and Recreation, and the immediate dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority.”
Honourable Vincent Ekow Assafuah
Addressing the matter, the Minority Caucus questioned whether the Sports Ministry exercised adequate oversight over activities connected to the travel arrangements. The Caucus also called for the GTA leadership to account for its involvement in arrangements involving persons travelling in connection with the tournament.
Directing attention to the legal implications, Honourable Assafuah distinguished administrative sanctions from criminal accountability. He argued that officials who are found to have committed offences should face the appropriate legal process after investigations establish the facts.
The Minority therefore wants the investigation to determine whether any public official breached established procedures in facilitating the movement of persons to the World Cup. Honourable Assafuah indicated that responsibility should be established on the basis of documentary evidence and the outcome of the ongoing inquiries.
Meanwhile, the Minority’s position extends to the circumstances surrounding the suspension of the NSA Director General. Honourable Assafuah emphasised that removing the NSA chief alone would not resolve the questions arising from the controversy, particularly where other institutions may have had roles in the arrangements.
“Dismissal is not prosecution. Removal from office is not accountability for criminal conduct. Where there is evidence of a crime, the appropriate law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities must pursue the matter.”
Honourable Vincent Ekow Assafuah
Furthermore, the Minority wants the inquiry to establish who authorised the various arrangements and whether public institutions acted within their mandates. It also expects the investigation to determine whether individuals benefited improperly from the process.
Minority Questions Visa Lists and Institutional Roles
The Minority in Parliament also raised questions about the identities of people presented to foreign diplomatic missions in connection with Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ranking Member of the Youth and Sports Committee, Honourable Vincent Ekow Assafuah, indicated that documents available to the Caucus require further examination of how individuals were described in official correspondence.
Honourable Assafuah alleged that some persons who were not employees of the National Sports Authority were presented as staff or affiliates in communications relating to visa applications. He argued that the circumstances surrounding those submissions must be established through a detailed investigation.
Turning to the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Minority also questioned arrangements involving the Authority and private entity TRIBE Culture Fest. According to the Old Tafo MP, the relationship included arrangements for visa processing and accommodation involving persons identified as GTA personnel.
Discussing the documentation submitted to the United States Embassy, the Old Tafo MP also drew attention to a list of individuals presented as media personnel. He alleged that the Minority’s verification indicated that only two of the 50 people on that particular list could be identified as media practitioners.
The Caucus has consequently called for the documentary trail surrounding the applications to be examined. This, according to Mr Assafuah, should include correspondence between public institutions and foreign missions as well as arrangements involving private organisations.
Referencing the National Sports Authority, the Minority also questioned the identities and institutional status of people included in lists submitted for visa-related purposes. A separate report on the same day indicated that the Caucus claimed only 15 of 102 people on one NSA list had been verified as NSA personnel, although those claims remain subject to investigation.
On this note, Honourable Assafuah called on investigators to establish why individuals were included on official lists and who authorised the descriptions attached to their names. He further called for scrutiny of the roles played by officials within the Sports Ministry, the NSA and the GTA.
Furthermore, the Minority wants the investigation to examine the participation of TRIBE Culture Fest in the arrangements. The Caucus believes establishing the relationship between the private entity and the relevant state institutions will help clarify how the visa process was organised.
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