Following the reported dismissal of Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), further details have emerged about allegations surrounding a visa facilitation scheme linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The allegations centre on claims that individuals associated with the NSA collected substantial sums of money from members of the public in exchange for facilitating visas to enable applicants to travel to the United States and Canada for the tournament.
The controversy intensified in September after the Minority in Parliament called for the suspension or dismissal of Ampofo Ankrah, alleging that more than US$600,000 had been collected from applicants, with some reportedly paying as much as US$8,000.
Ampofo Ankrah and other NSA officials were subsequently reported to have been questioned by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service as part of investigations into the matter.
Muftawu Nabila, a Ghanaian journalist has since disclosed portions of a petition submitted to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
According to Muftawu Nabila, he obtained details of the petition while investigating the case written and submitted by the NSA Chief Operating Officer (COO), Gyamfi Kusi Awere, who has reportedly also been sacked.
On JOY FM, Game Plan he disclosed how Gyamfi was introduced to the CEO of Tribe Culture Fest, Nana Boateng Gyimah, by NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah to facilitate visa processes.
He stated, “Yaw took me to a meeting at the American Embassy somewhere in August last year after Ghana had qualified for the World Cup. And after the meeting, when he came out of the room to the main entrance of the embassy, I saw Yaw with a group of people having some discussions. Then he called me to come. That was when he introduced me to Nana Boateng Gyimah. He said he is the CEO of Tribe Culture Fest, the wife of Christine Gyimah, and a member of GTA, which is the Ghana Tourism Authority.
“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, which I was doing according to his instructions,” portions of the petition read, according to Nabila.
“In November 2025, Nana Tribe was able to facilitate or secure visas for Yaw, myself, and six staff at the American Embassy. Thereafter, Yaw officially gave Nana Tribe an office at the Accra Sports Stadium to operate.
“He goes on to say that about 80% of the people who came to pay their visa deposit to me, given to Nana Tribe, were directed by Yaw to meet me, apart from some of the few NSA staff who came directly to me. Yaw was the mastermind of the whole thing we did at the World Cup. And he said that this is the transaction part. He said that when he directs people to come and pay their deposit to me, I quickly call Nana Tribe to come for the money for the visa processing,” other parts of the petition reportedly read.
The former NSA COO reportedly said the challenge was that some people who made payments did not obtain visas, leading aggrieved individuals to demand refunds.
He alleged that he and Ampofo Ankrah received $56,000 each in commissions from Nana Boateng and called for the NSA Director-General to refund his share so the money could compensate those affected.
“And when he comes for the money, he gives Yaw and me our commission, which Yaw will immediately come and pick up from me. Yaw admitted taking visa money commission from Nana Tribe through me, but the issue at hand now is that the people who paid the money for these visas, it was only a few who were successful. He said that when the people started demanding money, they came to me.
“So I asked Yaw to bring his commission, add it to my commission so that I will give it to the police and refund the people. And he said, I gave Nana Tribe five hundred and eleven thousand dollars. Yaw got fifty-six thousand dollars. And I also got $56,000. These are just portions of the petition,” the petition was quoted as saying.
Also Sporty FM outspoken journalist Nyamador called on authorities to engage him for detailed information.
Raymond Nyamador stated, “As I sit here, if the Chief of Staff, the President, or the Sports Minister is listening to me, they should come, and I will tell them what I know. I will give them every single detail to deal with this scandal. By the time this matter is dealt with, heads will roll, and government appointees will bleed.
“Because the matter stinks, and I won’t be surprised if this issue becomes the first major scandal in the Mahama administration. And that is why I am asking who gave TRIBE an office at the Accra Sports Stadium and what work was done?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has maintained his innocence saying, “Just minutes before I came and sat next to you, I spoke with my minister, Honourable Kofi Adams, and he explained the situation to me about an investigation. A lot is going on, which is fine. I think it’s very important. And I respect the decision to have an investigation.
“And for the time being, for me to step aside, I’ve not been sacked; at least that’s not what he told me, unless between now and the next couple of days. But this is just—it’s fluid. But I’m still calm, a bit disappointed, but I’m not one to rant and rage about what decision has been taken,” he told JoySports.
@ghnow_ Victims of the Avenor fire claim they were arrested and asked to pay GH₵1,500 each to be released. They say they called their MP and Assembly Member for help, but neither has arrived. “Where will we sleep? What will we eat?” they lament. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Video Allegedly Shows Immigration Officers Collecting Money From Foreign Nationals at Border #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – AGENT OF LAUGHTER 🤣😅🇬🇭
