The Minority in Parliament on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, demanded the immediate dismissal of Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams and Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) Chief Executive Maame Efua Houadjeto over the 2026 FIFA World Cup visa scandal, claiming that only two of 50 people submitted to the US Embassy as media personnel were actually journalists.
The demand was made at a press conference in Parliament led by Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee.
The Minority wants both officials removed, a full investigation into the matter, and the prosecution of anyone found culpable.
It comes a week after President John Dramani Mahama suspended National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah on October 1, 2026, over the same controversy.
Minority says only 2 of 50 World Cup visa ‘media’ names were journalists
Mr Assafuah said a list of 50 names was submitted to the US Embassy as media personnel travelling for World Cup activities.
“Of the 50 names submitted, only two persons were identified as media practitioners. The 48 were not media practitioners,” he said.
The Minority also said the US Embassy’s Fraud Prevention Unit flagged fraudulent employment claims among applicants, while the Canadian Embassy requested clarification on the employment credentials of some applicants.
Why the Minority wants Kofi Adams sacked
The Minority argues that the Sports Ministry’s role in the World Cup visa process needs particular scrutiny.
According to Mr Assafuah, the ministry received an NSA request containing four names but later transmitted an expanded list of about 92 names to the US Embassy.
He also alleged that a cover letter was prepared presenting outsiders as Ministry staff to help them obtain visas.
GTA CEO Maame Efua Houadjeto also targeted
The Minority is also demanding the removal of the GTA boss, Maame Efua Houadjeto, pending investigations into the authority’s role in the visa arrangements.
Its allegations involve the NSA, the GTA, TRIBE Culture Fest and officials of the Sports Ministry, with non-employees allegedly presented to foreign missions as staff of these institutions.
World Cup visa scandal: the key figures
- Amount allegedly collected: about US$623,000 from prospective World Cup travellers
- Amount allegedly charged per applicant: between US$7,000 and US$14,000, according to the Minority
- Names submitted to US Embassy as media personnel: 50
- Confirmed media practitioners among them: 2
- NSA request to Sports Ministry: 4 names
- List allegedly sent to US Embassy: about 92 names
How the World Cup visa scandal started
The controversy surfaced after allegations that about US$623,000 was collected from people seeking visa and travel assistance to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
A petition submitted to the police on September 8, 2026, alleged that persons connected to the NSA received the money. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) opened an investigation, and Mr Ampofo Ankrah appeared before police and denied all the allegations.
The NSA has said it “did not authorise any visa facilitation service or establish an office to collect money from members of the public” for World Cup travel, and that it is cooperating with the police. Ghanaians had earlier been warned by the US Embassy about World Cup travel and visa rules, as GhanaTrends reported in February.
‘Dismissal is not prosecution’ – Minority
The Minority insists that removing officials from office is not enough.
“Dismissal is not prosecution. Removal from office is not accountability for criminal conduct,” Mr Assafuah said.
The caucus wants administrative sanctions for culpable officials and criminal prosecution where evidence exists. It also wants the probe expanded to establish how funds were approved, who benefited and whether proper procedures were followed.
What the World Cup visa scandal means for Ghanaians
For the travellers who allegedly paid thousands of dollars, the case raises questions about whether they will recover their money.
For Ghana, the allegations that non-journalists and non-staff were presented to foreign embassies as official delegates could affect the credibility of future official visa requests to diplomatic missions.
The matter also puts pressure on the government to show accountability, with a Minister and a state agency head now facing calls to step aside.
What happens next
The CID investigation into the visa scheme is ongoing. The suspension of Mr Ampofo Ankrah is pending the outcome of investigations and does not establish criminal liability.
There has been no public response yet from Mr Kofi Adams or the GTA CEO to the Minority’s latest demands. Any decision on their positions rests with President Mahama. Proceedings in Parliament are expected to keep the issue on the agenda.
Key details at a glance
- Minority demands immediate dismissal of Sports Minister Kofi Adams and GTA CEO Maame Efua Houadjeto.
- Demand made on October 7, 2026, at a press conference in Parliament led by Vincent Ekow Assafuah.
- Only 2 of 50 names submitted to the US Embassy as media personnel were journalists, the Minority says.
- About US$623,000 was allegedly collected from prospective World Cup travellers.
- Applicants were allegedly charged US$7,000 to US$14,000 each.
- NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah was suspended on October 1, 2026.
- CID investigation is ongoing; the Minority wants prosecutions.
FAQs
What is the Ghana World Cup visa scandal?
It involves allegations that about US$623,000 was collected from people seeking visas and travel help for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with non-staff allegedly presented to foreign embassies as officials or media personnel.
Why does the Minority want Kofi Adams sacked?
The Minority says the Sports Ministry expanded an NSA list of four names to about 92 names sent to the US Embassy and presented outsiders as Ministry staff.
Was Yaw Ampofo Ankrah sacked over the World Cup visa scandal?
He was suspended as NSA Director-General on October 1, 2026, pending investigations. He has denied all the allegations.
Summary
The World Cup visa scandal has escalated from the NSA to the Sports Ministry and the Ghana Tourism Authority, with the Minority demanding the sacking of Kofi Adams and Maame Efua Houadjeto after claiming only two of 50 “media” applicants were journalists. With the CID probe ongoing and the NSA boss already suspended, attention now turns to President Mahama’s response.
