Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has rejected calls for his dismissal over alleged irregularities in visa arrangements for Ghanaian supporters and officials ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mr Adams said the Ministry of Sports and Recreation was not aware of the arrangements until it received a letter relating to event coordinators and volunteers.
Speaking on Ekosii Sen on Asempa FM, the Buem MP said the National Sports Authority (NSA), Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), US Embassy and TRIBE Culture Fest had worked on the process without informing the ministry.
“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 argued that the ministry would have known about the plans had the organisations involved informed it, copied it into their correspondence or formally submitted their proposals.
He said the first document that brought the matter to his attention was a letter dated 19 May, asking 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.
The minister explained that the letter was sent to the ministry’s Chief Director, who is a member of the technical committee responsible for overseeing the arrangements.
According to Mr Adams, the committee had agreed that the names of people expected to carry out specific duties during the World Cup should be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy so the required preparations could begin.
He said his role was confined to forwarding the letter through the proper administrative channels and maintained that he had no knowledge of the alleged financial transactions.
“Government money has not been lost,” Mr Adams said.
The Minority in Parliament has called for the minister’s dismissal and prosecution over his alleged involvement in the process.
The controversy has intensified following President John Dramani Mahama’s suspension of NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.
Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Sports Committee, has alleged that some officials helped people who were not Ministry employees to submit visa applications.
Mr Assafuah claimed a cover letter was prepared to portray outsiders as ministry staff in order to support their applications.
The Minority has also demanded the dismissal and prosecution of the Ghana Tourism Authority chief executive over alleged involvement in the arrangements.
