{
  "id": 13090858,
  "title": "World Cup visa scandal: Don’t shift blame to Ablakwa – Ekow Assafuah warns Sports Minister",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/world-cup-visa-scandal-dont-shift-blame-to-ablakwa-ekow-assafuah",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-09T09:56:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/world-cup-visa-scandal-dont-shift-blame-to-ablakwa-ekow-assafuah-warns-sports-minister/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the MP for Old Tafo, has advised Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams against attempting to shift blame to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa concerning the recent visa scandal surrounding Ghana's participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Addressing Adom FM's Dwaso Nsem, Assafuah made it clear that the Sports Ministry is responsible for confirming the identities and professional backgrounds of the individuals listed for visa facilitation. The controversy arose when it was revealed that the submitted list reportedly included public service staff and individuals falsely described as chaplains. Assafuah accused the Sports Ministry of failing to conduct sufficient due diligence before submitting the list to Ablakwa. He reminded that the Foreign Affairs Minister may not have been able to independently verify the authenticity of the positions and roles attributed to the listed individuals. Assafuah's remarks came as the scandal gained traction, with allegations emerging that some applicants had presented themselves with positions they did not hold during the visa application process.",
  "summary": "Old Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah has cautioned the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, against shifting responsibility to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over the controversy surrounding Ghana’s visa arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem ahead of the Sports Minister’s press conference, Mr Assafuah argued […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "World Cup visa scandal: I’ll go after anyone who dents Mahama’s gov’t – Ashaiman MP",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/world-cup-visa-scandal-ill-go-after-anyone-who-dents-mahamas-govt",
        "published": "2026-10-09T10:31:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}