The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has opened an investigation into suspected corruption involving officials of the National Sports Authority (NSA) and alleged financial irregularities linked to Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The inquiry will examine alleged abuse of public office, the awarding of NSA contracts, the selection of sponsorship beneficiaries, visa facilitation arrangements and the collection and management of money from prospective travellers.
The OSP said it had received petitions alleging corruption and corruption-related offences in contracts awarded by the NSA to service providers. It will also investigate claims that some winners of competitions connected to World Cup sponsorship initiatives were removed from final beneficiary lists submitted to foreign diplomatic missions.
Investigators will seek to establish how beneficiaries were chosen, who authorised travel opportunities and whether public officials or private individuals benefited improperly.
The development follows a police investigation, a presidential inquiry and the suspension of former NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah. JoySports reported on MyJoyOnline on September 14, 2026, that more than $623,000 had allegedly been collected from people seeking help to obtain visas for the tournament in the United States and Canada.
The report identified about nine victims who said they had paid between $4,000 and $25,000. More than 170 people were believed to have paid NSA officials for assistance with USA visas. Of those, 46 were denied visas, 34 never received appointment dates and 50 were not processed. About 37 obtained visas, while all applicants seeking Canadian visas were unsuccessful.
The allegations implicated Mr Ankrah, former NSA Chief Operations Officer Yaw Gyamfi Kusi Awere and Nana Boateng Gyimah, Chief Executive Officer of TRIBE Culture Fest.
In a petition to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Mr Awere alleged that Mr Ankrah received $56,000 in commission, while Mr Gyimah was accused of receiving $511,000. Mr Awere acknowledged to JoySports that he had collected money from applicants and said the funds were later shared among people connected to the arrangement.
Mr Ankrah has denied wrongdoing, saying he neither collected money from prospective travellers nor took part in visa facilitation. He has said that although he exchanged money with Mr Awere over the years, he did not know any of it represented commissions from travellers, and challenged anyone to produce evidence that he collected money for visas.
JoySports also reported on October 20 that $26,000 had been paid to police on Mr Ankrah’s behalf by a friend, with the approval of Mr Ankrah and his lawyers. Sources said the payment formed part of the $56,000 alleged by Mr Awere to have been received as commission, and that the payer had agreed to settle the outstanding balance. The payment followed Mr Awere’s request for police help recovering the alleged commission and refunding unsuccessful applicants. Mr Ankrah did not respond when contacted on October 15.
President John Dramani Mahama suspended Mr Ankrah on October 1, pending the CID investigation, after Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams submitted a report on alleged financial impropriety. Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong was appointed Acting Director-General.
The NSA has denied authorising visa facilitation or allowing its Accra Sports Stadium office to be used to collect money. The Minority in Parliament has questioned the roles of the NSA, Ghana Tourism Authority, Ministry of Sports and Recreation and TRIBE Culture Fest.
Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee, alleged that only 15 of 102 people presented as NSA personnel could be verified as employees. The Minority has called for an independent investigation, while President Mahama has established a committee chaired by Professor Francis Dodoo.
The OSP said its inquiry would also scrutinise NSA procurement and whether officials or private entities benefited improperly. It will release further information under its disclosure policy, while stressing that the investigation does not establish wrongdoing and that all individuals and institutions remain presumed innocent until proven guilty.
