Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has rejected calls for his removal over alleged illegal activities involving visa arrangements for Ghanaian supporters and officials ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Buem MP said his ministry only learnt about the arrangements in May.
The Minority in Parliament has called for his dismissal and prosecution over the issue. The matter has come under scrutiny following the suspension of National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.
At a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday, 7th October, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, alleged that some officials had helped people who were not ministry employees to apply for visas.
Hon. Assafuah also claimed that a letter had been prepared to present outsiders as ministry staff to help them obtain visas. The Minority has also called for the dismissal and prosecution of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) chief executive, Maame Efua Houadjeto over alleged involvement in the arrangements.
However, Hon. Adams denied knowing about the process before May. He said the NSA, GTA, United States Embassy and TRIBE Culture Fest had handled the arrangements without informing his ministry.
“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 told Citi News.
The minister said his ministry would have known about the arrangements if the organisations involved had informed it or included it in their letters and discussions.
He said the first time he learnt about the issue was on 19th May, when a letter asked his ministry to send 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 19th 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.
Hon. Adams explained that the letter was sent to the ministry’s Chief Director, who is a member of the technical committee overseeing the arrangements.
He said the committee had agreed to submit the names of people expected to perform specific duties at the World Cup to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy to begin the necessary preparations.
The minister said his role was limited to forwarding the letter through the proper administrative channels. He also denied knowing about the alleged payments linked to the visa arrangements.
“Government money has not been lost,” he said.
By: Pascal Amoah
