Tribe Culture Fest denies receiving $611,000 for World Cup visas

Nana Boateng Gyimah, the Chief Executive Officer of Tribe Culture Fest, has officially denied allegations that his organization received US$611,000 from private individuals for 2026 FIFA World Cup visa assistance. Speaking at a press conference, Gyimah refuted claims that the company engaged in unlawful financial dealings with persons seeking to travel to the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the tournament. He dismissed the assertions as lacking factual support and called for immediate transparency regarding the source of these figures.

The CEO specifically challenged the Minister of Youth and Sports, Kofi Adams, to provide verifiable evidence linking the organization to the alleged personal payments. According to Gyimah, all of Tribe Culture Fest's operations and financial transactions were strictly institutional, governed by formal contracts with the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA). He emphasized that the services provided were part of broader organizational mandates and were not structured as personal financial transactions for individual visa applications.

Gyimah further condemned claims that the firm was unlawfully holding funds, insisting that all interactions followed established protocols with state bodies. He urged those making the allegations to present proof of any disputed payments to clarify the matter. By highlighting the institutional nature of their partnerships, the CEO sought to distance Tribe Culture Fest from suggestions of financial misconduct or direct-to-consumer visa racketeering.

The denial comes amid heightened scrutiny over the management of travel arrangements for international sporting events. As Ghana prepares for the 2026 World Cup, this dispute underscores the complexities of partnerships between private entities and state sports agencies. The resolution of these claims will likely depend on whether the Ministry of Youth and Sports produces the requested documentation to support the $611,000 figure or if the matter remains a point of contention between the government and the event firm.