Kofi Adams denies involvement in 2026 World Cup visa scandal

Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has publicly denied allegations of involvement in a visa facilitation scandal related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Minister’s denial comes amid mounting scrutiny over irregularities in the visa application processes involving state agencies and a private entity, Tribe Culture Fest. The matter is currently under investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, following concerns raised about the legitimacy of lists submitted for travel facilitation.

Adams has accused Nana Boateng Gyimah, the CEO of Tribe Culture Fest, of orchestrating the allegations against him and other government officials to deflect attention from a financial dispute. The Minister claimed that Gyimah owes approximately $611,000 to the National Sports Authority (NSA) under a transportation agreement for the tournament. According to Adams, the CEO has been providing false information to lawmakers, including Member of Parliament Vincent Ekow Assafuah, to avoid his repayment obligations. In response, Gyimah has challenged the Minister to provide evidence for these claims, denying any mismanagement of funds and calling for a retraction.

The controversy has also drawn sharp criticism from Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the MP for Old Tafo, who labeled Adams "incompetent" for failing to verify a list of 90 individuals sent to the U.S. Embassy. Adams admitted in a media interview that he did not cross-check the names provided by the NSA. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, through aide Wonder Sitsofe Mandel, defended its integrity, stating that the arrangements with the embassy were intended to streamline travel protocols for volunteers and were established before the suspension of former NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.

As the CID probe continues, there are growing calls for a broader parliamentary investigation into the roles of the NSA, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), and the Ministry. Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, and the Minority in Parliament have emphasized the need for full accountability to protect the government’s reputation. Minister Adams maintained that while the U.S. Embassy introduced Tribe Culture Fest to state agencies, the NSA failed to inform the Ministry of specific visa arrangements, highlighting a significant lack of inter-agency coordination.