Suspended Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah
President John Dramani Mahama has suspended the Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, with immediate effect amid an ongoing investigation into an alleged visa facilitation scheme connected to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A letter dated October 1, 2026, and signed by Secretary to the President Callistus Mahama said the suspension would remain in force pending the completion of investigations by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
The Presidency stressed that the decision is an administrative measure and does not amount to a finding of wrongdoing against Mr Ampofo Ankrah.
$623,000 Allegations
The suspension follows allegations that approximately US$623,000 was collected from prospective travellers seeking assistance with visas and travel arrangements for the World Cup.
The Minority in Parliament had alleged that some prospective travellers paid as much as US$8,000 under the purported arrangement and subsequently called for the NSA boss to be suspended or removed while investigations continued.
Mr Ampofo Ankrah appeared before police investigators last week and denied the allegations against him.
The NSA has also categorically denied establishing or authorising any operation to collect money or facilitate visas for people seeking to attend the World Cup. It said its collaboration with TRIBE FEST, a FIFA-licensed partner, did not authorise the company, NSA employees or any other person to collect money for visas on behalf of the Authority.
Mr Ampofo Ankrah’s lawyer, Jerry Avenorgbor, has also rejected claims that his client collected money from prospective travellers, maintaining that the ongoing investigation would establish the facts.
New NSA Boss
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, National Coordinator of the School and Grassroots Sports Secretariat at the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, has been appointed Acting Director-General of the NSA.
Professor Sarpong is also an Associate Professor of Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Education, Winneba. MyJoyOnline
The latest development comes less than a month after President Mahama dissolved the NSA Governing Board on September 2 as part of changes affecting several state institutions.
Investigations into the alleged visa arrangement remain ongoing, and the allegations against Mr Ampofo Ankrah have not been established as fact.
