2026 World Cup: NSA did not inform me of US visa arrangements – Kofi Adams

Kofi Adams, the Minister for Sports and Recreation, has stated that he was not informed by the National Sports Authority (NSA) or the US Embassy about any visa arrangements prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This revelation has come amidst a growing controversy surrounding visa arrangements involving the NSA, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), and private organization TRIBE Culture Fest.

Calls for investigations into the roles of these institutions and their officials have intensified. In an interview on Accra-based TV3, Mr Adams revealed that the ministry had received no communication from the NSA or the US Embassy confirming any agreement on visa acquisition. He further explained that government employees traveling on official business would require a different visa category compared to those traveling with the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

The NSA and GTA are governmental agencies, and their employees would need to apply for diplomatic visas, while GFA employees would need visitor B1/B2 visas. Mr Adams clarified that the NSA had indeed engaged with the US Embassy, but these discussions were not related to visa issuance. These engagements were separate from the visa acquisition process.

The controversy has sparked concerns about the submission of names to foreign diplomatic missions and the involvement of various state institutions and private organizations in facilitating travel connected to the 2026 World Cup. The Minority in Parliament has called for a comprehensive investigation, asserting that accountability should extend beyond former NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, who was previously suspended and later dismissed amid the controversy.

The Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service has now launched an investigation into the allegations.