The Minority in Parliament is demanding the immediate removal of Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams and Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) Chief Executive Officer Maame Afua Houadjeto over alleged irregularities surrounding Ghana’s visa arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The demand follows President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to ask National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah to step aside while the police investigate allegations linked to the visa arrangements.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, October 7, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee and Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, said the decision involving the former NSA boss should form part of a broader accountability process.
According to him, the issues under investigation extend beyond one individual.
“The dismissal of Yaw Ampofo Ankrah does not, by itself, resolve the issues before us. Accountability cannot and does end with one individual.”
The Minority claims documents in its possession point to the involvement of the NSA, the Ghana Tourism Authority, TRIBE Culture Fest and officials within the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.
It further alleges that individuals who were neither employees nor affiliates of public institutions were presented as such in engagements with foreign diplomatic missions.
The Minority is also demanding investigations into alleged payments ranging between US$7,000 and US$14,000 by individuals seeking access to the visa arrangements.
Assafuah called for investigations into the roles of the Sports and Recreation Minister, the GTA leadership, NSA officials, TRIBE Culture Fest and other individuals named in the documents.
He stressed that any officials found administratively culpable should face sanctions, while persons found to have committed criminal offences should be prosecuted.
“Dismissal is not prosecution. Removal from office is not accountability for criminal conduct. Where there is evidence of a crime, the appropriate law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities must pursue the matter.”
The Minority is therefore calling for Kofi Adams and Maame Afua Houadjeto to be removed from office pending the outcome of investigations into the alleged visa-related irregularities.
By: Bernard Mensah
Discussion about this post