The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is set to invite officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for questioning over alleged irregularities surrounding Ghana’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, multiple sources have confirmed.
The reported investigation will focus on how tickets were allocated, supporter registration procedures, and the management of World Cup travel arrangements. The move comes amid growing public pressure for transparency and accountability in the handling of World Cup-related activities.
The probe follows months of controversy that has already claimed at least one high-profile casualty. The Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, was suspended on 1 October 2026 pending the outcome of a separate CID investigation into alleged visa irregularities. President John Dramani Mahama described the suspension as an administrative measure, not a finding of wrongdoing.
Background: A World Cup Campaign Under Scrutiny
The controversy dates back to June 2026, when hundreds of Ghanaian supporters were left stranded outside the stadium before the Black Stars’ group-stage match against Croatia, claiming they had been promised tickets that never materialised.
The Minority Caucus in Parliament subsequently demanded a detailed, line-by-line account of how GH¢58 million allocated for Ghana’s World Cup participation was expended. The caucus also called for a reconciliation of the reported 3,000 World Cup tickets purchased, including tickets allocated, used, unused, transferred or resold.
Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams told Parliament that the government spent approximately US$1.26 million to secure 2,922 tickets for Ghana’s three group-stage matches against Panama, England and Croatia. The allocation included 948 tickets for the Panama match, 1,000 for the England game and 974 for the Croatia encounter.
Adams explained that the government’s allocation was distributed to specific groups rather than on a first-come, first-served basis. Beneficiaries included members of the Ghana Supporters Union who travelled from Accra, stakeholders from the GFA, the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and its allied agencies, as well as Ghanaians living abroad.
The Minister dismissed claims that tickets had been diverted for sale, describing such allegations as false. “People told barefaced lies that the tickets were being sold at a supermarket in the US. Unfortunately for them, they didn’t know that the tickets for this World Cup are electronic and not physical tickets,” he said.
Allegations of Ticket Racketeering and Hoarding
Separate reports have alleged ticket racketeering involving some key GFA officials. Ghanaian businessman Kennedy Agyapong, popularly known as Kenpong, reportedly ordered over 100 tickets worth more than US$100,000 through the official GFA website over five months before the tournament, only to be allocated fewer than 30 tickets. Sources close to him accused a key GFA official of hoarding the tickets and redirecting them to friends and associates.
The New Ghana Social Justice Forum had earlier petitioned the GFA in January 2026, calling for a transparent and corruption-free ticketing system. The Forum warned that opaque ticket distribution systems have historically created opportunities for black marketing, ticket hoarding, visa racketeering, profiteering and organised fraud during major international tournaments.
GFA Denies Wrongdoing
The GFA has denied any wrongdoing in the handling of World Cup tickets and travel arrangements. In June 2026, the Association issued a public warning to football stakeholders and supporters about the activities of a company operating under the name Match Experience Hospitality, which was allegedly promoting and selling unauthorised FIFA World Cup 2026 packages in Ghana. The GFA disclosed that FIFA had petitioned the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate the matter.
GFA officials have also refuted claims made by the Sports Minister regarding ticket distribution. In June 2026, GFA Executive Council member Achee refuted certain claims regarding tickets for Black Stars World Cup matches.
The Association has maintained that it handled visas for players and officials in line with established procedures and that all ticket allocations were conducted through the appropriate channels.
EOCO’s Broader Investigation
The EOCO probe into the GFA is part of a wider investigation into alleged visa irregularities involving multiple state agencies. The Minority Caucus in Parliament has alleged that only 15 of 102 names submitted to the Canadian Embassy as NSA staff or affiliates were genuine employees, with some of the remaining 87 given titles that do not exist in the Authority’s structure.
The Minority also drew the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) into the visa row, alleging that 48 of its 50 listed media applicants were unverified and that people outside the GTA were offered or processed for visas under the Authority’s arrangements, at fees reportedly ranging from US14,000 per person.
The Bureau of National Investigations has already questioned Ampofo Ankrah and other NSA officials over the allegations. Ampofo Ankrah has denied the allegations and expressed disappointment that he was not given a hearing before his suspension. The GTA had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of reporting.
EOCO has a long history of investigating the GFA. In 2010, the Office raided the GFA headquarters and seized computers and documents in connection with an investigation into alleged tax breaches and fraud related to the 2010 World Cup. The GFA president at the time, Kwesi Nyantakyi, denied any wrongdoing.
What Happens Next
With the EOCO investigation now underway, attention is firmly on the GFA and the key officials who managed Ghana’s World Cup campaign. The Association has said it will cooperate fully with investigators, though no formal invitation has yet been served. The Office is expected to begin questioning GFA officials in the coming weeks, with potential sanctions to follow if wrongdoing is established.
Ghanaians will be watching closely. As the Minority Caucus put it, “This is about ensuring that public and private resources committed to Ghana’s World Cup campaign are accounted for down to the last dollar”.
