More details have emerged about the alleged visa racketeering scandal linked to Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following the suspension of Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as director of the National Sports Authority (NSA).
The former NSA Chief Operations Officer, Yaw Gyamfi Kusi Awere, is reported to have petitioned the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), implicating himself and naming other alleged beneficiaries, including Ampofo Ankrah and Nana Boateng Gyimah, the CEO of TRIBE Culture Fest.
According to Joy FM Sports Editor Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo, Gyamfi approached the police after coming under pressure from people seeking refunds for money they had paid in connection with applications for United States and/or Canadian visas for the World Cup.
Fentuo said Gyamfi had returned the share of the proceeds he allegedly received, but remained the main focus of demands because he had collected the money directly from the applicants.
He made the claims during a panel discussion on the 12 October 2026 edition of JoyNews PM Express.
Gyamfi Kusi Awere reportedly told investigators that he had not kept all the money collected. He therefore asked the other alleged beneficiaries, including Ampofo Ankrah and the CEO of TRIBE Culture Fest, to return the portions they had allegedly received so the victims could be refunded.
However, the reported failure of those parties to repay the money placed further pressure on the former NSA official. He believed the applicants would continue to hold him responsible because their financial dealings had been directly with him.
Fentuo said Gyamfi then decided to petition the CID and name the other alleged recipients in an effort to force the money to be returned and allow the outstanding refunds to be paid.
He also indicated that Gyamfi believed TRIBE Culture Fest had received the largest share and should therefore assume responsibility for refunding that amount.
JoyNews reporter Muftawu Nabila Abdulai, who also took part in the programme, said 85 of the 90 people who paid for the visa arrangement had not received visas.
Those applicants had reportedly paid between $10,000 and $15,000 each for the intended World Cup travel documents.
Alleged distribution of funds
The allegations indicate that the money collected from applicants was divided among several people involved in the process.
Under the reported arrangement, $4,000 was said to be the actual cost of the process. A further $1,500 was allegedly allocated to the suspended NSA Director-General, while $1,500 was reportedly assigned to the former NSA COO.
Another US$5,000 was allegedly retained, with the remaining $1,000 said to have gone to Nana Boateng Gyimah, the CEO of TRIBE Culture Fest.
The claims form part of the details emerging from the alleged visa facilitation scandal, which has led to Ampofo Ankrah’s suspension from the NSA.
