Suspended National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah will not appear before Parliament to answer questions on the alleged World Cup visa scandal that has engulfed his tenure, his legal counsel has confirmed, citing the need to protect an active criminal investigation.
In a statement issued on behalf of the embattled sports administrator, his lawyers at Brookman Amissah & Associates said it would be “imprudent” for Mr. Ampofo Ankrah to appear before the August House while the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service continues its probe into the allegations.
“Such an appearance, while the investigative process remains active and Mr. Ampofo Ankrah is under suspension, could potentially prejudice or otherwise interfere with the ongoing investigation, create avoidable complications for the investigative process, and undermine the integrity of the process through which the relevant facts are being established,” the statement read.
The legal team was careful to frame the decision as a strategic legal manoeuvre rather than a refusal to cooperate with state institutions.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this position should not be interpreted as a refusal to submit to any lawful process or to account to any constitutionally mandated institution,” the statement clarified. “Rather, it reflects a considered decision to protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation and avoid any action that could potentially compromise or prejudice that process.”
The lawyers indicated that should the suspension be lifted and Mr. Ampofo Ankrah be restored to his duties by the Office of the President, he would respond appropriately to any lawful summons.
Background: A Fall from Grace
The controversy marks a dramatic reversal of fortune for Mr. Ampofo Ankrah, a veteran sports journalist and administrator who was appointed Director-General of the NSA by President John Dramani Mahama on 13 March 2025. Before his appointment, he was best known as the President of the Ghana Beach Soccer Association and had enjoyed a long career in sports broadcasting, including a stint with the BBC. Under his leadership, Ghana recorded a historic back-to-back aggregate victory over Côte d’Ivoire in the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
His tenure, however, came under intense scrutiny in 2026 following allegations of a fraudulent visa facilitation scheme linked to Ghana’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
At the centre of the storm are claims that approximately US623,000 was collected from Ghanaians seeking assistance with visa and travel arrangements, with some applicants reportedly charged as much as US$8,000 each. The Minority in Parliament, led by Ranking Member Vincent Ekow Assafuah, demanded Mr. Ampofo Ankrah’s suspension or dismissal while police investigated, further alleging that promotional materials for the scheme were displayed at NSA offices and stadium premises.
The Minority also questioned the continued stay in the United States of the Sports and Recreation Minister’s driver and secretary, though no wrongdoing has been established against either official.
The Petition and the Alleged Mastermind
The allegations were formally brought to the attention of the CID through a petition reportedly submitted on 8 September 2026 by the NSA’s Chief Operating Officer, Gyamfi Kusi Awere.
According to journalist Muftawu Nabila, who disclosed portions of the petition on Joy FM’s Game Plan programme, Mr. Awere alleged that Mr. Ampofo Ankrah introduced him to Nana Boateng Gyimah, CEO of Tribe Culture Fest, during a meeting at the American Embassy in August 2025 after Ghana had qualified for the World Cup.
“Yaw told me that Nana Gyimah, aka Nana Tribe, can facilitate visas for people, including NSA staff, to travel to the USA and Canada to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup. So I should liaise with him and report to him, Yaw, as my Director-General,” the petition reportedly read.
Mr. Awere further alleged that Mr. Ampofo Ankrah directed him to collect payments from applicants and forward the money to the Tribe Culture Fest CEO, and that 80 per cent of those who paid deposits were directed to him by Mr. Ampofo Ankrah. The petition claimed that when the visa process began failing and aggrieved applicants demanded refunds, the scheme unravelled.
The NSA has consistently denied authorising any visa facilitation service or the collection of money from members of the public in connection with the World Cup. The Authority has also rejected suggestions that its relationship with Tribe Culture Fest, a FIFA-licensed partner involved in fan experiences and mobilisation, included permission to collect funds for visa procurement.
Suspension and New Leadership
On 1 October 2026, President Mahama suspended Mr. Ampofo Ankrah pending the outcome of the investigations. The suspension came less than a month after the President dissolved the NSA’s 15-member governing board on 2 September 2026, citing broader governance reforms and growing public concern over the state of major venues such as the Accra and Baba Yara stadia.
Following his suspension, Mr. Ampofo Ankrah appeared before the CID and denied the allegations against him.
Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, an Associate Professor of Physical Education and Sports at the University of Education, Winneba, has been appointed Acting Director-General of the NSA. Professor Sarpong now takes charge of the Authority at a time when questions remain over the management of Ghana’s sporting facilities and the ongoing police investigation into the visa allegations.
The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) has also commenced a parallel probe into the matter, with investigators seeking 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.
The Legal Position
In its statement, Mr. Ampofo Ankrah’s legal team urged the public and media to exercise restraint in their coverage of the unfolding scandal.
“It is important to emphasise that the fact that an investigation is underway does not, in itself, constitute a finding or determination of wrongdoing against Mr. Ampofo Ankrah or any other person,” the lawyers stated.
They confirmed that Mr. Ampofo Ankrah has cooperated, and will continue to cooperate fully, with the relevant authorities, and that all substantive public commentary on the issues under investigation will remain in abeyance until the appropriate authorities have completed their work.
“At the appropriate time, Mr. Ampofo Ankrah and/or his legal representatives will respond to the findings and address any matters requiring clarification,” the statement concluded.
The 2026 World Cup will be staged in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As Ghana prepares for the tournament, the unresolved allegations continue to cast a shadow over the nation’s sports administration, with the outcome of the dual CID and BNI investigations expected to determine the next chapter in a saga that has captivated the nation.
