{
  "id": 15592400,
  "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",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-19T10:04:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/i-am-confident-i-will-be-exonorated-over-world-cup-visa-scandal-yaw-ampofo-ankrah/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, a former National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General, expressed confidence that he will be exonerated from allegations related to visa racketeering during the 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. The charges emerged following allegations that approximately $623,000 had been received from individuals seeking assistance with visa applications and travel arrangements for the tournament. President John Dramani Mahama subsequently ordered Ankrah's suspension, with investigators probing potential financial irregularities surrounding Ghana’s preparations for the World Cup.\n\nIn an interview, Ankrah maintained that he respects the investigative process and anticipates being cleared, stating he is \"200% confident\" of his eventual exoneration. He urged the media and public to exercise caution when discussing the allegations, warning against the spread of unverified information. He called on journalists to verify their sources and report developments professionally.\n\nThe inquiries into the allegations have been progressing smoothly, according to Ankrah, who has expressed his willingness to cooperate with authorities. He mentioned that he had met with the police on two occasions and is prepared to provide additional information if requested. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service is leading the investigation into these allegations, which have drawn significant public attention.\n\nAnkrah’s suspension led to the appointment of Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong as Acting Director-General of the NSA while investigations continue. The resolution of the allegations and the outcome of the investigation will determine the next steps in the matter.",
  "summary": "Former National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah says he is confident he will be cleared of any wrongdoing in an ongoing investigation into alleged visa racketeering linked to Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. Ampofo Ankrah was suspended following allegations that about $623,000 had been received from prospective travellers seeking assistance with visa […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "GBC Ghana",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-10-19T07:30:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}