Sports Minister Kofi Adams rejects calls for his removal over World Cup visa scandal

Ghana’s Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has rejected calls for his removal over alleged irregularities in visa arrangements for Ghanaian supporters and officials ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that his Ministry was unaware of the process.

The Buem MP’s response follows demands by the Minority in Parliament for his dismissal and prosecution over alleged involvement in the arrangements, which are under scrutiny following the suspension of National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.

Speaking at a press conference in Parliament, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, alleged that some officials had facilitated visa applications for individuals who were not employees of the Sports Ministry.

Mr Assafuah claimed that a cover letter had been prepared to present outsiders as Ministry staff to support their visa applications. The Minority has also called for the dismissal and prosecution of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) chief executive over alleged involvement in the arrangements.

However, Mr Adams told Citi News that the NSA, GTA, US Embassy and TRIBE Culture Fest had handled the process without the Ministry’s knowledge.

“Well, I don’t see the justification. Both the American Embassy and TRIBE Culture Fest, the NSA and the GTA were doing their thing behind the Ministry. The Ministry didn’t know,” he said.

The minister argued that his office would have been aware of the arrangements had the parties involved informed it, copied it into their correspondence or formally presented details of their plans.

He said the first time he became aware of the matter was on receipt of a letter dated 19 May requesting that the Ministry forward the names of event coordinators and volunteers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy.

“The first time I ever sat and had a conversation in relation to that matter was when the May 19 letter requested the forwarding of event coordinators and volunteers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy. That’s when I got to know the details of what was happening,” he said.

Mr Adams explained that the letter was forwarded to the Ministry’s Chief Director, who serves on the technical committee overseeing the arrangements.

According to the minister, the committee had agreed that the names of individuals expected to perform specific duties during the World Cup should be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy to allow preparatory processes to begin.

He maintained that his involvement was limited to forwarding the letter through the appropriate administrative channels and denied having knowledge of the alleged financial transactions.

“Government money has not been lost,” he said.