The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has commenced investigations into suspected corruption involving the National Sports Authority (NSA), including allegations that more than US$623,000 was collected from prospective travellers seeking visas for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The investigation also covers contracts awarded by the Authority, alleged abuse of public office, irregularities in the selection of sponsorship beneficiaries and the management of funds connected to Ghana’s participation in the tournament.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, the OSP disclosed that it had received petitions alleging corruption and corruption-related offences involving the NSA and various service providers.
The anti-corruption agency said it would examine how beneficiaries were selected, who authorised travel opportunities and whether public officials or private individuals improperly benefited from the arrangements.
Investigators will also examine allegations that some individuals who won competitions organised under World Cup sponsorship initiatives were excluded from the final lists of beneficiaries submitted to foreign diplomatic missions.
$623,000 Visa Allegations
The investigation follows a September 14 exposé by JoySports, which alleged that more than US$623,000 had been collected from approximately 180 prospective travellers seeking assistance to obtain visas for the World Cup in the United States and Canada.
According to the investigation, applicants paid between US$4,000 and US$25,000, but only about 37 reportedly secured visas.
Others had their applications refused, failed to secure interview appointments or were never processed.
The allegations implicated suspended NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, former Chief Operations Officer Yaw Gyamfi Kusi Awere and Chief Executive Officer of TRIBE Culture Fest, Nana Boateng Gyimah.
In a petition to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Mr Awere alleged that Mr Ankrah received US$56,000 in commissions from the visa arrangements, while Mr Gyimah received US$511,000.
Mr Ankrah has consistently denied wrongdoing, maintaining that he neither collected money from prospective travellers nor participated in any visa facilitation arrangement.
JoySports subsequently reported that US$26,000 had been paid to the police on Mr Ankrah’s behalf by a friend, with his approval and that of his lawyers.
Mr Ankrah has maintained that although he exchanged money with Mr Awere over the years, he was unaware that any funds represented commissions from visa applicants.
Presidential Suspension and Investigations
President John Dramani Mahama suspended Mr Ankrah on October 1, 2026, following a report submitted by Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams.
Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong was subsequently appointed Acting Director-General of the NSA.
The President also established a committee chaired by Professor Francis Dodoo to investigate the allegations, while the CID commenced a separate criminal investigation.
The NSA has denied authorising any arrangement to collect money from prospective travellers or permitting its premises to be used for unauthorised visa facilitation activities.
Minority Raises Concerns
The Minority in Parliament has questioned the roles of the NSA, Ghana Tourism Authority, Ministry of Sports and Recreation and TRIBE Culture Fest in the alleged arrangements.
Ranking Member of Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has alleged discrepancies in the lists of individuals presented to foreign diplomatic missions.
According to him, only 15 of the 102 individuals reportedly presented as NSA personnel could be verified as employees of the Authority.
Mr Assafuah has also questioned the independence of the presidential investigative committee and called for a broader independent inquiry.
OSP Promises Further Updates
The OSP’s intervention expands the scope of investigations beyond the alleged visa transactions to include procurement contracts and the possible misuse of public office.
The agency indicated that further information would be communicated in accordance with its disclosure policy.
It stressed that the commencement of investigations does not establish wrongdoing and that all individuals and institutions concerned remain presumed innocent until proven guilty.
