The Minority in Parliament has welcomed President John Mahama’s decision to remove Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as Director General of the National Sports Authority but has insisted that the dismissal must be followed by a comprehensive investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding visa arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Minority said its earlier demand for Mr Ampofo Ankrah to step aside was motivated by concerns that the allegations required independent scrutiny and accountability without the continued presence of the NSA Director General at the institution.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, October 7, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, commended President Mahama for acting on the Minority’s call.
Mr Assafuah, however, cautioned that the removal of the NSA chief should not be interpreted as the conclusion of the matter.
He said information and documents available to the Minority indicated that the alleged irregularities could extend beyond the former NSA Director General and therefore required a broader institutional investigation.
The Minority is consequently demanding scrutiny of the roles allegedly played by Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams, officials of the Ghana Tourism Authority, officers of the National Sports Authority, officials within the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and representatives of the private organisation TRIBE Culture Fest.
The proposed investigation is expected to examine alleged irregularities associated with visa processing and other arrangements connected to Ghana’s participation in the 2026 World Cup.
The Minority has also raised concerns about alleged charges imposed on individuals seeking assistance with visa applications and travel arrangements, including claims that some applicants were charged substantial sums for such services.
It has further questioned the circumstances under which individuals whose professional credentials were allegedly questionable were presented to the United States and Canadian embassies as part of preparations connected to the tournament.
The Minority has previously alleged that more than US$600,000 was collected from individuals seeking assistance with visa and travel arrangements, with some applicants allegedly paying as much as US$8,000.
Mr Ampofo Ankrah’s removal was reported earlier in October, with Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong appointed as Acting Director General of the NSA amid scrutiny of the allegations.
