Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams says some Ghanaians paid people who claimed they could secure visas for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite repeated warnings not to do so.
Mr Adams said information gathered after the tournament indicated that applicants had handed money to individuals, including some allegedly occupying official positions. He said the Ministry had not been aware of the arrangements.
The Buem MP told Citi News that he had repeatedly advised people against paying anyone who claimed to have personal connections or influence that could help them obtain visas to the United States or Canada.
“Before the World Cup, as Minister, on several occasions I had cause to warn Ghanaians and advise Ghanaians not to give money out to anybody in the name of going to offer you a visa to go to the US or Canada,” he said.
He said people planning to travel should deal only with registered organisations, including reputable travel and tour companies. Such organisations, he added, should have established processes and formal contractual obligations.
Mr Adams said his warnings had specifically targeted people who used supposed links to the minister or members of the World Cup oversight committee to solicit payments.
“You meet an individual who says, ‘I know the Minister for Sports. He’s my friend. Bring something,’ or ‘I know the members of the oversight committee and I’ll go and influence the process.’ Please don’t do that,” he said.
The minister maintained that the Ministry had received no notification of the alleged arrangements, even though some applicants appeared to have ignored the advice issued before the tournament.
The claims have come under increased scrutiny amid allegations of visa-facilitation arrangements involving the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the National Sports Authority (NSA).
The Minority in Parliament has questioned the arrangements and raised allegations that some applicants were asked to pay between US$7,000 and US$14,000 for help with their visa applications.
The allegations have also led to action involving the NSA. President John Dramani Mahama has directed Yaw Ampofo Ankrah to step aside from his role as Director-General of the NSA while police investigate the matter.
Mr Adams’s comments centre on what he says were unauthorised approaches by individuals offering to influence visa decisions, rather than any formal Ministry process. He urged prospective travellers to reject requests for money based on claimed access to government officials or World Cup administrators.
