President John Dramani Mahama has suspended Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) amid a widening controversy over an alleged visa-facilitation arrangement tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
JoySports reports that the decision was communicated in a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr Calitus Mahama. The suspension comes weeks after allegations that about US$623,000 was received from prospective travellers seeking help with visas and travel arrangements for the tournament.
The allegations triggered an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. Ankrah and other individuals connected to the matter have appeared before investigators. Ankrah appeared last week and denied the allegations. He had previously denied knowledge of any arrangement involving the collection of money from prospective World Cup travellers.
The NSA has also insisted it did not authorise any visa facilitation service or set up an office to collect money from members of the public seeking to travel to the World Cup. In a September statement, the Authority said its relationship with TRIBE FEST, a FIFA-licensed partner involved in fan-experience activities, World Cup viewing events and mobilisation, did not extend to authorising the collection of money for visa procurement.
The controversy followed a petition reportedly submitted to the CID on September 8 alleging that individuals connected to the NSA received money from prospective travellers on the understanding that their travel and visa arrangements would be facilitated. The Minority in Parliament subsequently called for Ankrah to be dismissed or suspended while investigations continued.
The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, said information available to the Minority suggested some prospective travellers were charged as much as 600,000 and demanded answers about who authorised it, who received the money and what services were provided.
The NSA rejected the suggestion that the alleged operation was an official arrangement of the Authority. It said no employee had been authorised to collect money or facilitate visas on behalf of the NSA. The Authority added that its legal team was cooperating with the police investigation and that Ankrah and other relevant officials would make themselves available to investigators if required.
Ankrah’s suspension therefore comes while the police investigation remains a live matter. The suspension itself does not establish criminal liability or prove the allegations against him.
His suspension also follows a period of heightened scrutiny over the management of Ghana’s sporting facilities and administration. On September 2, President Mahama dissolved the governing board of the NSA as part of a wider decision affecting several state institutions. The board was subsequently expected to be reconstituted.
The latest decision brings Ankrah’s tenure as Director-General to an end. It also comes at a critical period for Ghanaian sport, with the country continuing preparations for several international competitions and renewed attention on the management, financing and accountability of state sports institutions.
The police investigation is expected to establish whether money was collected from prospective travellers, who received the funds, what representations were made to those who paid, and whether any public officials or institutions were involved.
Associate Professor Emmanuel Sarpong of the University of Education, Winneba, has been appointed as acting Director-General.
