It was supposed to be a dream come true for nearly 90 Ghanaians, each of whom paid between $10,000 and $15,000 in hopes of attending the World Cup extravaganza in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. But for most, the dream ended in disappointment, only five out of the group ultimately received visas, leaving dozens frustrated and sparking a nationwide controversy that has shaken Ghana’s sporting and political circles.
The fallout was immediate. National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah was suspended, and the Presidency announced plans to launch a formal probe into the arrangements that led to the debacle. Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament called for not just suspensions but also the prosecution of officials they allege were involved in facilitating the failed arrangements.
Amidst the uproar, Minister Adams found himself at the center of swirling accusations. In a candid interview with Citi News, he firmly rejected calls for his removal and insisted that his ministry had no foreknowledge of the controversial arrangements. “Well, I don’t see the justification. Both the American Embassy and TRIBE Culture Fest, the NSA and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) were doing their thing behind the Ministry. The Ministry didn’t know,” Adams asserted.
According to Adams, the sequence of events that brought the issue to his attention began with a letter dated May 19. The correspondence requested that the Ministry of Sports and Recreation 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 explained.
Adams recounted that the letter was passed along to the ministry’s Chief Director, who sits on the technical committee overseeing such arrangements. The committee, he explained, had agreed that lists of people expected to perform specific duties at the World Cup should be submitted to the appropriate authorities to initiate the necessary processes. However, he maintained that the entire process was handled independently by the NSA, GTA, US Embassy, and TRIBE Culture Fest, without the Ministry’s involvement or notification.
“If the organisations involved had formally presented their plans, copied the ministry in their correspondence, or otherwise informed us, we would have known,” Adams insisted. He also denied any knowledge of the alleged financial transactions, stating, “Government money has not been lost.”
The controversy reached new heights following allegations by Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Sports Committee. At a press conference, Assafuah claimed that some officials had helped outsiders, people who were not ministry employees, apply for visas, even preparing a cover letter to present them as staff.
As calls for accountability grew louder, the Minority demanded the dismissal and prosecution of the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, citing alleged involvement in the arrangements. Minister Adams, however, maintained that his role had been limited to forwarding the May 19 letter through the proper channels, with no prior knowledge of the financial aspects or the deeper details of the arrangements.
As the nation awaits the results of the official probe, questions linger over how so many could be left out in the cold, and who will ultimately be held responsible for the World Cup visa fiasco.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com