Kofi Adams, Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, has repeatedly denied personal or Ministry involvement in a visa controversy linked to arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States and Canada.
The scandal involves allegations of irregularities in submitting names to embassies, misrepresentation of applicants’ affiliations with state institutions, and the collection of large sums reported in the range of roughly $611,000–$623,000 as facilitation or travel fees from prospective travellers.
Background and Core Allegations
The controversy centres on efforts to facilitate visas for Ghanaians seeking to travel for World Cup-related activities. Key institutions named include the National Sports Authority (NSA), the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the Sports and Recreation Ministry, and the private events company TRIBE Culture Fest.
The Minority in Parliament (led on the issue by Ranking Member of the Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, MP for Old Tafo) has alleged that:
• Names were submitted to the US (and Canadian) embassies under false or inflated institutional affiliations e.g., as NSA staff, volunteers, event coordinators, board members, or media personnel.
• Significant fees reportedly $7,000–$14,000 per person in some claims, with aggregate figures around $623,000 were collected improperly.
• Public institutions were used to lend credibility to private arrangements.
• Specific lists included people who were not genuine staff or media practitioners (e.g., claims that of 50 names submitted by the GTA as media personnel, only two were verified as such; similar issues raised with NSA-related lists).
President John Dramani Mahama suspended NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrahpending investigations into the matter, following a petition related to the alleged payments.
The Minority has demanded the immediate dismissal and potential prosecution of Adams and GTA CEO Maame Efua Houadjeto arguing that their institutions’ roles require scrutiny and that remaining in office undermines the probe.
Earlier related claims from September 2026 involved allegations that some government-sponsored World Cup delegates, including Ministry-linked individuals, had overstayed visas or failed to return; Adams rejected these as unsubstantiated or “fake news,” noting no formal notification from US or Canadian authorities.
Adams’ and the Ministry’s Denials
Adams and his representatives have consistently denied Ministry or personal involvement in any scheme, financial benefit, or wrongdoing. Key points from official responses and Adams’ public statements including a Ministry press engagement around 9–10 October 2026 and a TV3 interview on 11 October 2026) include:
• The Ministry is not responsible for certifying every action by the NSA, GTA, or TRIBE Culture Fest. Special aide Wonder Mandel stated: “The Ministry is not here to certify every action undertaken by the NSA. We are not certifying every action by the GTA. We are not certifying every action by TRiBE Culture Fest.”
• No evidence has been presented that Adams personally collected money, received commissions, instructed others to take payments, or created fictitious positions. Official correspondence alone does not prove financial benefit.
• The Ministry’s role was limited and administrative. Formal engagement with the US Embassy began around 9 April 2026 (NSA communications dated earlier, from late January 2026). The Ministry forwarded an NSA request for visa support for approximately 90 people described as volunteers/event coordinators/facilitation personnel. Forwarding the list did not mean selecting applicants or guaranteeing approvals—the embassy retained final authority.
• Adams has highlighted distinctions between lists: An earlier NSA submission (around 18 March 2026) involved verification of four individuals presented as NSA staff. Adams said he checked with the then-Director-General, confirmed they were not NSA employees, and responded accordingly that they were not known to the Ministry/NSA. These four were not part of the later 90-person list. He has rejected claims of misrepresentation on the 90-name list and stated that no formal notification of irregularities on that list came from the US Embassy, NSA, or Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Broader figures cited by Adams: Approximately 1,023 applications processed across relevant categories (including A and B1/B2), with only 441 visas issued. Not even all verified Ministry/NSA staff with documentation secured visas, underscoring that refusals do not automatically indicate fraud or misrepresentation.
• The Ministry and Adams previously warned the public against paying unverified third parties promising special visa access. Adams has said he raised concerns and referred matters for investigation.
• On TRIBE Culture Fest: Adams stated that, according to his investigations, the US Embassy introduced the company to the NSA and GTA during a meeting, rather than the Ministry initiating the arrangement. He said the NSA did not inform the Ministry of any specific visa acquisition agreement with the embassy, and NSA engagements were not necessarily about visa issuance.
In the 11 October TV3 interview, Adams went further, accusing TRIBE Culture Fest CEO Nana Boateng Gyimah of driving the allegations (via information provided to Assafuah) to divert attention from approximately $611,000 he allegedly collected illegally under an NSA-related agreement for transporting Ghanaians and has refused to refund.
Adams called for accountability, recovery of the money, and potential criminal action if deception is established: “He cannot run away with $611,000 of people’s money.”
Ministry’s Key Timeline Points (from 9–10 October Press Response)
1. Formal Ministry-US Embassy engagement started 9 April 2026.
2. NSA communications with the embassy dated back to 28 January 2026.
3. NSA submitted the list of ~90 volunteers/event coordinators.
4. Four individuals in earlier correspondence were not on the 90-name list.
5. Adams sought verification details on certain individuals presented as NSA personnel.
6. The US Embassy had the final say on approvals/rejections.
7. Adams raised concerns and referred the matter for investigation.
8. No evidence of personal financial benefit to Adams.
9. Public warnings against visa scams/impersonators.
10. Calls for full investigations, refunds where due, and sanctions against the culpable.
Current Status and Broader Context
As of mid-October 2026, the matter remains under scrutiny and investigation. The Minority continues to press for wider probes into the roles of all institutions and individuals involved, beyond just the former NSA head.