Minister for Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams says there is no justification for calls by Ghana’s parliamentary Minority to remove him over an alleged visa scandal connected to the FIFA World Cup.
Around 90 people reportedly paid between $10,000 and $15,000 each in connection with attending the tournament, which was staged across the USA, Canada and Mexico. However, only five of those applicants are said to have secured visas.
National Sports Authority (NSA) director-general Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has already been suspended over the issue. Further action at the Sports Ministry is expected, with the Presidency set to open an investigation, JoySports can confirm.
Adams rejected suggestions that he should be dismissed, arguing that no government funds had been lost.
“Government money has not been lost,” he told Citi News.
He also said the Ministry had not been aware of the arrangements involving the United States embassy, TRIBE Culture Fest, the NSA and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).
“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.
Adams said he first became aware of the details when the Ministry received a letter dated May 19. The correspondence requested that event coordinators and volunteers be referred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 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.”