{
  "id": 15577912,
  "title": "Tribe Culture Fest denies taking money from World Cup visa applicants",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/tribe-culture-fest-denies-taking-money-from-world-cup-visa-applicants",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-19T07:30:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GBC Ghana",
    "slug": "gbc-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/news/tribe-culture-fest-denies-taking-money-from-world-cup-visa-applicants/2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tribe Culture Fest has denied receiving funds from individuals who were allegedly promised visas to the United States, Canada, and Mexico, clarifying that its collaboration with the National Sports Authority (NSA) was limited to event and travel logistics. At a press conference on Sunday, October 18, CEO Nana Boateng Gyimah addressed allegations by Sports Minister Kofi Adams that payments totaling $611,000 were connected to Ghana’s World Cup travel plans. Gyimah stated that Tribe’s agreements with the NSA and other entities were for hotel bookings, transportation, security, and travel logistics, not private transactions with people seeking visas. He emphasized that Tribe’s payments were institutional arrangements for specific programs and activities, not personal financial dealings with individuals seeking visas. Tribe charged $3,000 and $2,000 as full and final fees for its services, adding that it never received money directly from individuals claiming visa assistance. Gyimah also mentioned rumors that some people paid between $14,000 and $20,000 to NSA officials for visa promises but stressed that Tribe did not receive such payments. The company is now requesting documentation proving who received the disputed funds, how the money circulated, and if any reached Tribe Culture Fest or its CEO. Tribe has challenged authorities to present the contractual and legal reasons for any refund demands linked to the allegations.",
  "summary": "Tribe Culture Fest has denied taking money from individuals who were promised visas to the United States, Canada and Mexico, saying its work with the National Sports Authority (NSA) was limited to event and travel logistics. CEO Nana Boateng Gyimah made the clarification at a press conference on Sunday, October 18, in response to Sports […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "I am confident I will be exonorated over World Cup visa scandal – Yaw Ampofo Ankrah",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/i-am-confident-i-will-be-exonorated-over-world-cup-visa-scandal-yaw",
        "published": "2026-10-19T10:04:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}