Minister for Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams, has rejected calls by the Minority in Parliament for his dismissal over alleged irregularities in visa arrangements involving supporters and officials during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Reports indicate that about 90 people paid between $10,000 and $15,000 each for arrangements linked to the tournament, but only five reportedly secured visas.
The controversy has resulted in the suspension of National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, while the Presidency is expected to initiate a probe into the matter.
The Minority has called for the dismissal and prosecution of officials it believes were involved in the arrangements.
Speaking to Accra-based Citi FM, Mr Adams said he saw no justification for calls for his removal, insisting that the arrangements were handled without the knowledge of his Ministry.
He said the American Embassy, TRIBE Culture Fest, the NSA and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) dealt with the process independently of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.
“Well, I don’t see the justification. Both the American Embassy and TRIBE Culture Fest, the NSA and the GTA were doing their thing behind the Ministry. The Ministry didn’t know,” he said.
Mr Adams said he first became aware of the details when a letter dated May 19 requested the ministry to forward the names of event coordinators and volunteers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy.
“The first time I ever sat and had a conversation in relation to that matter was when the May 19 letter requested the forwarding of event coordinators and volunteers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy.
That’s when I got to know the details of what was happening,” he said.
According to the minister, the letter was forwarded to the ministry’s Chief Director, who serves on the technical committee overseeing the arrangements.
He explained that the committee had agreed that the names of individuals expected to perform specific duties during the tournament should be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy to enable the necessary preparatory processes to begin.
Mr Adams maintained that the NSA, GTA, US Embassy and TRIBE Culture Fest handled the arrangements without formally informing his ministry.
He said the ministry would have been aware of the process if the organisations involved had presented their plans, copied it in their correspondence or otherwise communicated the details.
The minister also denied prior knowledge of the alleged financial transactions linked to the visa arrangements.
“Government money has not been lost,” he said.
The Minority’s demands followed allegations raised by the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, at a press conference on Wednesday, October 7.
Mr Assafuah alleged that some officials facilitated visa applications for individuals who were not employees of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.
He further claimed that a cover letter had been prepared to portray outsiders as ministry staff to support their visa applications.
The Minority has also called for the dismissal and prosecution of the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority over alleged involvement in the arrangements.
Mr Adams, however, maintained that his role was limited to forwarding the May 19 letter through the appropriate administrative channels and that he had no prior knowledge of the alleged financial dealings.
