JoyNews reporter Muftawu Nabila Abdulai has dropped fresh details allgeding how how money collected from applicants in the 2026 World Cup visa racketeering scandal was distributed among individuals associated with the process.
He cited a petition by former NSA chief executive Yaw Gyamfi Kusi Awere, who reportedly alleged that about 80 per cent of the people who approached him had been referred by the NSA boss.
Muftawu Nabila Abdulai detailed that the payment arrangement involved US$4,000 as the actual cost of the process, with US$1,500 allegedly allocated to the suspended NSA Director-General, another US$1,500 to the former NSA chief executive, and US$1,000 to the chief executive of TRIBE Culture Fest, Nana Boateng Gyimah. A further US$5,000 was reportedly retained under the alleged arrangement.
The claims raise questions about the roles of intermediaries, the collection and distribution of payments, and the circumstances under which applicants were led to believe they could secure visas to attend the tournament.
According to JoyNews journalist Muftawu Nabila Abdulai, speaking on Monday, October 12, 2026, disclosed that a list of 90 people presented as event coordinators and volunteers for the tournament was forwarded to the Ministry of Sports and Recreation by the then Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.
He disclosed that the letter, dated May 19, was intended to facilitate the applicants’ travel to the tournament, with the ministry reportedly receiving it on May 25, following an earlier directive from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs instructing government institutions and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to channel World Cup-related travel requests through the Sports Ministry for due diligence.
Muftawu Nabila Abdulai disclosed that investigations established that only five of the 90 applicants obtained visas, leaving 85 unsuccessful.
The JoySports report noted that the names of the applicants had been included in a petition submitted to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
He further disclosed that the investigation further revealed that prospective travellers were allegedly charged different amounts depending on their intended destinations, adding that applicants seeking visas for both the United States and Canada were reportedly charged US$15,000, while those applying to travel only to the United States were allegedly charged US$10,000.
According to Muftawu, applicants were often introduced to the process through contractors and sub-contractors who collected money on their behalf, rather than approaching the individuals allegedly facilitating the applications directly.
Muftawu Nabila Abdulai cited several transactions uncovered during his investigation, including one intermediary who allegedly submitted a list of 47 applicants. Another reportedly brought 15 people and paid US$59,000 in a single transaction. In separate instances, an intermediary allegedly paid US$25,000 for five applicants, another paid US$20,000 for four people, and a different individual paid US$10,000 for two applicants.
He further cited a case in which a woman allegedly delivered GH¢158,000 on behalf of three other prospective travellers. He said he had spoken to individuals involved in some of the transactions as part of his investigation.
Also, details suggested that the process was facilitated through an office allegedly established at the NSA to assist prospective World Cup attendees with their visa applications.
According to Muftawu, the office had staff and served as a point of contact for applicants who submitted money in the belief that they were participating in an official arrangement.
He alleged that Yaw Gyamfi Kusi Awere operated the office, although the individual reportedly denied knowledge of the alleged activities.
Meanwhile, it must be noted that the allegations remain subject to investigation, and the claims against the individuals mentioned should not be treated as established facts.
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@ghnow_ Peller and Humble Soul have arrived at the airport with the Avengers ahead of the highly anticipated Avengers Ghana Invasion. #GHNow #Peller #AvengersGhanaInvasion ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Peller and Humble Soul have arrived at the airport with the Avengers ahead of the highly anticipated Avengers Ghana Invasion. #GHNow #Peller #AvengersGhanaInvasion ♬ original sound – GHnow
