President John Dramani Mahama has suspended National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah amid an investigation into alleged payments made by prospective travellers seeking assistance with visas and travel arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The decision follows allegations that about US$623,000 was received from individuals seeking assistance to travel to the World Cup, with some applicants reportedly paying as much as US$8,000.
The allegations prompted a police investigation, with Mr Ampofo Ankrah and other individuals linked to the matter appearing before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
Mr Ampofo Ankrah appeared before the CID last week and denied the allegations against him.
The controversy also led to calls from the Minority in Parliament for the NSA director-general to be suspended or removed from office while the investigation was ongoing.
The police investigation is expected to establish whether money was collected from prospective travellers, who received the funds, what representations were made to those who paid, and whether any public officials or state institutions were involved.
The NSA has denied authorising any visa facilitation service or the collection of money from members of the public in connection with the World Cup.
The Authority has said its legal team is cooperating with the police investigation.
Mr Ampofo Ankrah's suspension comes as the NSA faces increased scrutiny over the allegations, which remain under investigation.
On 2 September, President Mahama dissolved the governing board of the NSA as part of a wider decision affecting several state institutions. The board was subsequently expected to be reconstituted.
Meanwhile, Director of School Sports Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong has been appointed Acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority.
The police investigation into the World Cup visa allegations remains ongoing.
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