News:
October 7, 2026
Accuses officials of running visa racketeering scheme involving fake institutional positions, millions in undocumented payments
The Minority in Parliament has called for the immediate dismissal of the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) over allegations of widespread fraud in World Cup visa arrangements that saw hundreds of Ghanaians presented to foreign embassies under false institutional identities.
Addressing the media in Accra, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, on behalf of the Minority, presented a trove of documents — including email trails, memoranda of understanding, embassy correspondence, and visa application lists — alleging a coordinated scheme involving the National Sports Authority (NSA), the GTA, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, and a private entity called Tribe Culture Fest.
“We raised that call because we believed that in the face of the serious questions surrounding the alleged World Cup visa arrangements, there was a need for accountability and for the investigation to proceed without the continued presence of the Director General at the helm of affairs at the institution as well as the Minister for Sports,” Assafuah said.
The President has since removed the Director-General of the NSA, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah. However, the Minority insists this does not resolve the matter.
“Accountability cannot and does not end with one individual. The documents and records in our possession point to a chain of institutional involvement extending beyond the former Director General of the National Sports Authority,” Assafuah stated.
US Embassy Fraud Unit Flags 50 ‘Media Personnel’ — Only 2 Verified
According to the Minority, the Ghana Tourism Authority submitted a list of 50 persons to the United States Embassy describing them as media personnel for World Cup-related activities. However, the US Embassy’s fraud prevention unit conducted due diligence and found that only two — Philippe Nye and Andudosti of Multimedia — were actual media practitioners. The remaining 48 were not.
“More troubling, information and accounts available to us indicate that many of these individuals were persons who allegedly paid sums ranging between $8,000 and $9,000 to the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mame Efua Houadjeto, in connection with arrangements for the World Cup,” Assafuah alleged.
The Minority also alleged that individuals outside the GTA were allegedly processed for visas at fees ranging from $7,000 to $14,000 per person.
The Tribe Culture Fest Connection
Central to the allegations is Tribe Culture Fest, described as an American company with a subsidiary in Ghana, which entered into MOUs with the NSA and GTA to facilitate visa processing, accommodation, and logistics for personnel traveling to the USA and Canada.
The MOU between the NSA and Tribe Culture Fest, signed on 2 June 2025, purportedly gave the company “exclusive operational access to NSA facilities for approved events and initiatives.” According to the Minority, the GTA’s arrangement with Tribe required payments of $3,000 USD per person for US visa-related costs and $2,000 USD per person for Canadian visas — regardless of whether a visa was ultimately granted.
“The question is: where did the NSA get the money? The NSA does not have such financial muscle to pay on behalf of staff or affiliates,” Assafuah said.
False Positions Created for Applicants
The Minority presented evidence alleging that numerous individuals were presented to both US and Canadian embassies with fabricated positions within the NSA.
“Of the 102 persons presented to the Canadian Embassy, only 15 have been verified as personnel of the National Sports Authority. 87 individuals’ status as NSA personnel could not be verified,” Assafuah said.
Minister’s Direct Involvement Alleged
The Minority specifically accused Minister Kofi Adams of personally transmitting an expanded list of approximately 92 names to the US Embassy after the fraud prevention unit had flagged discrepancies.
“On 28 May 2026, the Ministry wrote to the United States Embassy with a request for ministerial support and visa facilitation for NSA volunteers or event coordinators for FIFA World Cup activities,” Assafuah said. “The question is what was the interest of the Honourable Kofi Adams in directing his chief director to sign an introductory letter that includes names of persons who were not NSA staff, personnel, or volunteers?”
Some Visa Recipients Have Not Returned
The Minority also alleged that several individuals who traveled to the United States under the purported institutional arrangement have not returned to Ghana, including Nana Pukwa Mankwa (assistant to Yaw Ampofo Ankrah), Steven Ofori (driver of the Minister for Sports), and the secretary of the Director-General.
“This matter should be independently verified through immigration records and the relevant travel documents,” Assafuah said.
Calls for Full Investigation and Prosecution
The Minority is demanding:
1. Immediate dismissal of Minister Kofi Adams
2. Immediate dismissal of the GTA CEO
3. Full investigation into the conduct of both officials and all persons implicated
4. Prosecution where evidence establishes criminal conduct
“Where administrative responsibility is established, the appropriate officials must be dismissed or sanctioned. Where criminal responsibility is established, prosecution must follow without fear or favor,” Assafuah stated. “No official should be protected because of the office they occupy. No private individual should escape scrutiny because they were protected through a public institution.”
The Minority also called for investigation into the role of Chase and Diesel, two individuals allegedly engaged to oversee visa processing activities, and into a petition reportedly submitted by GTA directors raising concerns about accountability.
“We welcome the President’s decision to remove Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, but the country cannot stop there,” Assafuah concluded. “The removal of one official does not automatically answer every question arising from the documents.”
The Minority said it has made all documents available to the media for independent scrutiny.
Ghanamps.com