Nana Boateng Gyimah, the Chief Executive Officer of Tribe Culture Fest, has once again boldly denied allegations that the organisation received US$611,000 from individuals seeking to travel to the United States, Canada and Mexico for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to Nana Boateng Gyimah, Tribe Culture Fest had no direct financial dealings with the individuals challenging the Minister for Sports, Kofi Adams, to provide evidence to support the allegations.
He argued that the organisation’s engagements relating to the programmes in question were governed by institutional contracts with the National Sports Authority (NSA) and, where applicable, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).
Nana Boateng Gyimah disclosed that Tribe Culture Fest charged US$3,000 and US$2,000 as full and final payments for services which included event arrangements, travel logistics, hotel bookings, transportation and security.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, October 18, Mr Gyimah said, “Tribe CultureFest and its Chief Executive Officer, myself, Nana Gyimah, categorically deny the allegations attributed to the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, that our organisation or its CEO illegally received $611,000 from private individuals and is avoiding a refund.
“We do not accept the presentation of this allegation as an established fact. Our position is clear. Tribe did not receive the alleged $611,000 from the private individuals referred to in the public allegation, and we do not enter into personal financial arrangements being attributed to us,” he said.
He also debunked claims that Tribe CultureFest charged individuals between $14,000 and $20,000 to facilitate their travels.
Nana Boateng Gyimah added, “Our attention has been drawn to the fact that individuals paid as high as $14,000 to $20,000 to individuals in the NSA with the promise of securing visas for their travels to the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“We wish to set the record straight that, by the arrangement between Tribe and the NSA and other institutions, we charge $3,000 and $2,000 as full and final payments for our role in event logistics, travel logistics, hotel bookings, transportation and security,” he stated.
“Persons or entities that actually received these funds. The dates, amounts, currencies, methods of payment, the bank, mobile money accounts and other channels through which funds were transferred, where applicable and lawfully obtainable.
“The specific legal and contractual basis upon which a refund is alleged to be due from Tribe. The persons who authorised, facilitated or controlled the transactions in question,” he added.
The development follows Kofi Adams, the Sports Minister, having distanced himself from the 2026 World Cup visa scandal, accusing TRIBE Culture Fest of defrauding individuals who paid for assistance to secure visas.
According to Kofi Adams, the petitions submitted to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) indicated that the company and some individuals had received money in connection with the visa arrangements.
Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV’s Face to Face on Tuesday, October 13, Kofi Adams stated, “They may have been doing a so-called genuine business, but on this occasion and in this particular matter, they have defrauded the people, and they must be held liable for it and all others, including any government official who is found to have involved himself or herself in any way”.
“One of them actually petitioned the CID to indicate that, look, when we return from the World Cup, people are pursuing us. I’ve made some refunds. The rest are refusing to make refunds even after a series of meetings,” he said.
Kofi Adams further stressed that no government funds had been lost, arguing that the money was allegedly paid by private individuals without the government’s knowledge.
“No government money has been lost. It is individuals who paid this money to them, on the blind side of the government arrangement,” he said.
Watch the video below:
“Tribe Culture Fest and its CEO categorically deny the allegations that our organisation, or its CEO, illegally received $611,000 from private individuals and is avoiding a refund.” — Tribe Culture Fest CEO, Nana Boateng Gyimah, responds to claims by Sports Minister Hon. Kofi Adams over alleged funds received by the organisation #JoyNews
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) October 18, 2026
@ghnow_ A woman who was robbed of her phone at Shatta Fest yesterday recounts her ordeal. Meanwhile, another lady was reportedly stripped half-naked by armed robbers during the incident. #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Arrival of guest at ESP hotel for Seats of Strength 2026 hosted by Ama Burland and Gisela #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – officialpm.gh
