The Minority in Parliament is calling for immediate action against National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah over allegations surrounding a visa facilitation arrangement linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Minority wants President John Dramani Mahama to either dismiss the NSA Director-General or ask him to step aside until investigations into the matter are completed.
Ranking Member on Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, said the matter warrants urgent attention, particularly as Ampofo Ankrah and some NSA officials have reportedly been appearing before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for questioning.
According to the Minority, the arrangement under investigation allegedly generated about US$600,000 and involved a private entity said to have operated with support from the NSA.
The caucus further alleges that some individuals were charged as much as US$8,000 for assistance with travel arrangements for the World Cup.
Assafuah said the allegations raise serious questions that require a full investigation and appropriate action while the process is ongoing.
“We therefore call on the President to dismiss the Director-General of the National Sports Authority with immediate effect, or, at the very least, require him to step aside pending the conclusion of the investigation,” he said.
The NSA, however, has denied authorising any visa facilitation or money collection arrangement connected to the World Cup.
The Authority has maintained that it did not approve such an arrangement and says it is prepared to cooperate with any lawful investigation by the police.
The allegations and the NSA’s denial mean the matter remains subject to the outcome of the ongoing investigations.
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