GTA denies collecting money for US, Canada visas ahead of 2026 World Cup

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has firmly denied allegations that it collected money for visas or visa opportunities related to the Ghana tourism promotion during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In a press statement released on October 9, 2026, the Authority clarified that its role was limited to identifying participants, facilitating institutional introductions and providing guidance on visa application procedures.

The initiative aimed to highlight Ghana's tourism, culture, music, fashion, crafts and creative industries to a global audience. The GTA collaborated with the United States Embassy and the Canadian High Commission to obtain guidance on visa requirements for participants, but emphasized they had no authority to issue visas or influence application results.

The Authority stressed that they never had the power to issue visas, guarantee approvals or determine individual application outcomes, as these decisions were exclusively made by the respective diplomatic and immigration authorities. Furthermore, the GTA explained that private-sector sponsorship proposals were not feasible due to the high financial demands, so participants were responsible for covering their own visa application fees, travel and accommodation expenses.

The GTA explicitly denied collecting money for visa opportunities, stating categorically, "The Ghana Tourism Authority unequivocally denies collecting money from any applicant in return for visas or visa opportunities." The Authority urged the public to differentiate between payments made to independent travel service providers and payments to the Authority or its officials.