The Minority in Parliament is calling on President John Dramani Mahama to remove Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams and Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) Chief Executive Officer Maame Efua Houadjeto from office over alleged irregularities surrounding visa arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The demand follows the President’s decision to ask National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah to step aside while investigations into the visa controversy continue.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, said the removal of the former NSA boss should not be treated as the end of the matter.
According to him, questions remain about the roles played by the Sports Ministry, the GTA, NSA officials, private entity TRIBE Culture Fest and individuals allegedly involved in collecting money or preparing and transmitting names to foreign diplomatic missions.
“The President has removed Yaw Ampofo Ankrah. We acknowledge that decision, but the public should not be made to believe that the removal of one official automatically answers every question arising from the document. The ministry’s role remains. The GTA’s role remains. The role of the NSA officials also remains,” he said.
Mr Assafuah further said the Minority wanted scrutiny of those who allegedly collected or transmitted money, prepared or approved institutional lists, and added names to official submissions.
The Minority is therefore demanding the immediate dismissal of Mr Adams and Mrs Houadjeto, arguing that their continued stay in office could affect public confidence in investigations into the matter.
“We therefore call for the immediate dismissal of Honorable Kofi Adams, the Minister for Sports and Recreation, and the immediate dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority,” Mr Assafuah said.
He said the Sports Minister’s role required particular attention because, according to the Minority, the ministry received an NSA request containing four names before an expanded list of approximately 92 names was later transmitted to the United States Embassy.
“The minister’s role requires particular scrutiny because the ministry received an NSA request containing four names and subsequently transmitted an expanded list containing approximately 92 names to the United States Embassy. He cannot, he cannot escape liability,” he added.
The Minority has also raised questions about the GTA’s involvement in the visa arrangements, alongside concerns over names allegedly submitted to foreign diplomatic missions under institutional descriptions.
The controversy reportedly involves more than US$600,000 allegedly collected from prospective travellers seeking assistance with visa and travel arrangements ahead of the World Cup.
Earlier allegations presented by the Minority indicated that some individuals were allegedly charged between US$7,000 and US$14,000 in connection with the arrangements.
The Minority is calling for a broader investigation into all officials, institutions and individuals whose roles emerge from the documentary evidence.
Yaw Ampofo Ankrah and other NSA officials have reportedly been questioned by security agencies as investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged visa arrangements.
The calls for the removal of the Sports Minister and GTA CEO remain demands by the Minority, while investigations are expected to determine whether any official or individual bears administrative or criminal responsibility.
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