World Cup visa controversy: Sports Minister recommended setting aside NSA DG for investigations – Wonder Mandel
Story by Achore Richard
Personal Assistant to the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Wonder Mandel, has revealed that Sports Minister Kofi Adams recommended that the Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, be set aside to allow for proper investigations into Ghana’s World Cup visa controversy.
Wonder Mandel said the Ministry of Sports and Recreation had no intention of shielding any individual or institution found to have engaged in wrongdoing in connection with the visa arrangements linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has no intention of shielding anybody. If investigations established that any public official, private organisation, or any individual collected money and unlawfully misrepresented applicants to a diplomatic mission, falsified institutional information, abused public office, or personally benefited from any improper arrangement, that person must answer for it,” he stated.
His comments come amid growing scrutiny of the arrangements for Ghanaian officials and other prospective travellers seeking visas to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The controversy intensified following allegations that money had been collected from prospective travellers under a visa facilitation arrangement involving individuals and institutions connected to Ghana’s World Cup preparations.
Reports indicated that about US$623,000 was allegedly collected from prospective travellers seeking assistance with visa applications and related travel arrangements. The allegations prompted investigations by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, with Ampofo Ankrah and other individuals connected to the matter reportedly questioned by investigators.
The NSA subsequently denied allegations of an unauthorised visa facilitation scheme involving its Director-General and some staff, indicating that its legal team was cooperating with the police investigation.
The matter has also drawn political attention, with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament demanding a thorough investigation into the roles of the NSA, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, and private partner TRIBE Culture Fest.
On October 7, 2026, the Minority renewed its calls for accountability, raising questions about a memorandum of understanding between the NSA and TRIBE Culture Fest, reportedly signed on June 2, 2025, as part of arrangements for Ghana’s World Cup activities.
According to the Minority’s account, the arrangement covered visa processing, accommodation and logistics, with documented costs of US$3,000 per person for United States visas and US$2,000 for Canadian visas.
The Minority also alleged discrepancies in lists submitted to diplomatic missions. It claimed that 22 people were presented to the US Embassy as NSA personnel in January 2026, raising questions about the institutional positions of some applicants.
It further alleged that a list of 102 people submitted to the Canadian Embassy in June included only 15 individuals who could be verified as NSA staff. Questions were also raised about payments reportedly collected beyond the documented institutional costs.
These allegations have not been established as facts and remain subject to investigation.
President Mahama suspends NSA Director-General
On October 1, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama suspended Ampofo Ankrah pending the outcome of the CID investigation into the alleged visa facilitation arrangement.
Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong was subsequently appointed Acting Director-General of the NSA to oversee the authority while investigations continued.
Ampofo Ankrah later clarified that he had been suspended rather than dismissed, explaining that Sports Minister Kofi Adams had informed him that he should step aside while the allegations were investigated.
The suspension followed mounting pressure for accountability and concerns about the need to ensure that the investigation could proceed without interference. However, the decision to suspend the NSA boss does not in itself establish that he committed any offence.
Mandel’s latest disclosure that the Sports Minister recommended setting aside the Director-General provides further insight into the Ministry’s position on the matter.
Ministry vows accountability
Mandel stressed that any public official, private organisation or individual found to have collected money improperly, misrepresented applicants to diplomatic missions, falsified institutional information, abused public office or personally benefited from an improper arrangement must be held accountable.
The controversy has raised broader questions about the management of World Cup-related travel arrangements, the use of public institutions’ names in visa applications, the handling of payments and the oversight of partnerships involving government agencies.
Investigators will have to establish who authorised and prepared the lists submitted to diplomatic missions, how the payments were collected and accounted for, and whether any individual or institution breached the law.
The outcome of the police investigation is expected to be crucial in determining responsibility and whether further administrative or legal action is warranted.
For the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, Mandel’s message is that no individual or institution should be shielded if evidence establishes wrongdoing.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against those implicated must be treated as allegations until established through due process.