Kofi Adams, Minister of Sports and Recreation, said three staff members who travelled for the World Cup have not yet returned to the ministry.
According to Kofi Adams, the situation did not concern his personal driver, as had been claimed, but three other staff members whose absence was reported after the delegation returned.
Speaking on Accra-based Asempa FM. Kofi Adams stated, “When we got back from the World Cup, the report I had was that three of our senior staff have not returned to the Ministry”.
He explained that the ministry initially attempted to contact the staff members through their next of kin but was unsuccessful in reaching them.
Adams said the ministry had since initiated the established administrative procedures for dealing with employees who fail to report for duty.
However, he disclosed that officials had managed to reach one of the three staff members, who reportedly indicated that he had secured employment at another government agency in Ghana.
The whereabouts of the remaining two staff members, however, remain unknown. According to the minister, the ministry has not established whether they are still in the United States, have returned to Ghana or have travelled to another destination.
Adams further stated that the ministry was waiting for the applicable 180-day period to elapse before escalating the matter to the American Embassy, should the two staff members remain unreachable.
He said the embassy would then be asked to assist in determining whether the individuals could be traced.
In related news, Nana Boateng Gyimah, the Chief Executive Officer of Tribe Culture Fest, has demanded that the Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, provide evidence following his claims that people associated with the organisation received US$611,000 in connection with visa arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Tribe Culture Fest CEO, in a statement, denied the allegation, claiming that his company’s agreement was with the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).
He further categorically denied the allegations that the Tribe Culture Fest illegally received US$611,000 and is avoiding a refund.
According to Nana Boateng Gyimah, Tribe Culture did not receive the alleged US$611,000 from any private individual in connection with the arrangements in question.
He further challenged the Sports Minister to produce the evidence supporting his claims.
Parts of the statement read, “I categorically deny the allegations attributed to the Minister for Sports, Kofi Adams, that Tribe Culture Fest or I illegally received US$611,000 and are avoiding a refund”.
“For the record, Tribe Culture’s agreement was solely with the National Sports Authority and Ghana Tourism Authority. Neither I nor Tribe Culture Fest received the alleged US$611,000 from any private individual in connection with the arrangements in question”.
“I challenge the Minister to produce the evidence supporting his claims. He must provide any agreement, authorisation or consent involving me or Tribe Culture that establishes the alleged financial arrangement. He must also provide verifiable payment records showing who paid the money, who received it, when it was paid and how he arrived at the US$611,000,” he said.
Gyimah warned that the allegations could damage his reputation and the integrity of Tribe Culture Fest.
“My reputation and the integrity of Tribe Culture must not be undermined by unsubstantiated public accusations. I call on the Minister to substantiate his allegations or withdraw them and correct the public record, or have my lawyers deal with the matter,” the statement concluded.
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