The lawyer for suspended National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah says his client “has not received a penny from any individual” in connection with the alleged 2026 FIFA World Cup visa scandal, as a Criminal Investigations Department (CID) probe into about US$623,000 in visa facilitation fees continues.
Lawyer Jerry Avernugbor made the comments on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, October 10, 2026. On the same programme, a special aide to Sports Minister Kofi Adams, Wonder Sitsofe Mandel, said the Ministry of Sports and Recreation is “not shielding anybody”.
The controversy centres on visa arrangements for supporters and officials who travelled to the 2026 World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico. President John Dramani Mahama has suspended Mr Ampofo Ankrah pending investigations, and Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong has been appointed acting Director-General of the NSA.
The Minority in Parliament, which first raised the allegations at a press conference on Wednesday, October 7, wants the probe widened and has called for the dismissal of the Sports Minister and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) Chief Executive.
Ampofo Ankrah’s lawyer says CID has interviewed suspended NSA boss
Mr Avernugbor said the CID has been investigating the matter for about a week and that he and his client have attended interviews at the CID headquarters.
“The police are investigating aggressively, and they’ve been investigating for the past whole week,” he said.
He insisted Mr Ampofo Ankrah neither received money from applicants nor took part in any visa-related transactions. He said he had seen documents linked to the allegations but warned against reading them without full context.
According to the lawyer, a US Embassy representative introduced Mr Ampofo Ankrah to a company presented as legitimate, and the NSA boss named an assistant as point of contact after the embassy requested one. “If my client is found guilty, the law will take its course,” he added.
Sports Ministry says no evidence Kofi Adams benefited financially
In a separate press statement, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation said there is no evidence before the public that Mr Adams personally received money, commissions or other financial benefits from the alleged irregularities.
The Ministry said institutional correspondence “should not automatically be treated as evidence of personal financial gain” and that responsibility “must be established through evidence gathered from investigations.”
Speaking on Newsfile, Mr Mandel said: “Whenever there is wrongdoing, the law must take its course, and the ministry is not shielding anybody.” He added: “If anyone abused the office process or benefited improperly, the law will work.”
Earlier, Mr Mandel told the Daily Graphic that the Ministry had no contract or commercial agreement with private travel companies, including TRIBE Culture Fest, and that the minister forwarded the NSA request to the US Embassy’s Technical Working Group for due diligence without approving or guaranteeing any visa.
World Cup Visa Scandal: Ampofo Ankrah Has Not Received ‘a Penny’, Lawyer Says as CID Probes US$623,000 Fees
World Cup visa scandal allegations in figures
The Minority, led by Ranking Member on the Youth and Sports Committee Vincent Ekow Assafuah, made a series of allegations that remain subject to investigation:
- Visa facilitation fees under scrutiny: about US$623,000
- Alleged fees per applicant: US$7,000 to US$14,000
- Names submitted to Canada as NSA personnel: 102 — only 15 verified, 87 unverified
- Names GTA allegedly submitted to the US Embassy as media: 50 — only 2 verified as journalists
- Applicants flagged by the US Embassy Fraud Prevention Unit: 4
- Disputed job titles: Operations Coordinator, Business Administrator, World Cup Coordinator, Research and Technology Officer
The Minority also claims some people who travelled to the US have not returned to Ghana. These figures are allegations and have not been confirmed by investigators. GhanaTrends earlier reported on the Minority’s demand for the sacking of Kofi Adams and the GTA CEO.
Ghana Tourism Authority denies collecting money for US visas
The GTA, in a statement on Friday, October 9, said it “unequivocally denies collecting money from any applicant” in return for visas. It said participants were told to pay their own visa fees, travel and accommodation after private sponsorship proved impracticable.
GTA CEO Maame Efua Houadjeto also said: “I also categorically deny that I solicited, received, or authorized payments for the purpose of securing visas.” The Authority said any payments made to independent travel agents must be distinguished from payments to the GTA or its officials.
What the World Cup visa scandal means for Ghanaians
For the public, the case raises questions about how state agencies handle diplomatic requests and whether official channels were used to help non-staff obtain visas.
It could also affect Ghana’s standing with foreign missions, as the US and Canadian embassies both raised questions about the identities of applicants presented as NSA affiliates. Applicants who allegedly paid fees will be watching to see whether money is traced and recovered.
What happens next in the CID visa probe
The CID investigation is ongoing, and both the Ministry and Mr Ampofo Ankrah’s lawyer say they will accept its findings. No charges have been announced.
The Minority wants the probe extended to the NSA, GTA, Sports Ministry and TRIBE Culture Fest, with sanctions for those administratively responsible and prosecution for anyone criminally liable.
Key details at a glance
- Suspended NSA boss Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has “not received a penny”, his lawyer Jerry Avernugbor says.
- The CID has been investigating for about a week; Ampofo Ankrah has attended interviews.
- About US$623,000 in visa facilitation fees is at the centre of the controversy.
- Sports Ministry says no evidence shows Minister Kofi Adams benefited financially.
- GTA and its CEO Maame Efua Houadjeto deny collecting money for visas.
- Prof. Emmanuel Osei Sarpong is acting NSA Director-General.
- The Minority wants Kofi Adams and the GTA CEO dismissed and prosecuted if culpable.
FAQs
What is the Ghana World Cup visa scandal about?
It involves allegations that people who were not staff of the NSA or genuine journalists were presented to the US and Canadian embassies for 2026 World Cup visas, with some allegedly paying US$7,000 to US$14,000. About US$623,000 in visa facilitation fees is under scrutiny.
Why was Yaw Ampofo Ankrah suspended?
President Mahama suspended the NSA Director-General pending investigations into the alleged visa scheme. His lawyer says he did not receive any money from applicants.
Is Sports Minister Kofi Adams under investigation?
The Minority wants his role investigated and has called for his dismissal. The Sports Ministry says there is no evidence he personally benefited and that the CID probe should determine responsibility.
With the CID probe into its second week, the World Cup visa scandal remains unresolved: the suspended NSA boss, the Sports Ministry and the GTA all deny taking money, while the Minority presses for a wider investigation and accountability for the US$623,000 in fees under scrutiny.
