Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has clarified that National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has not been sacked but has been asked to step aside as investigations continue into alleged fraud involving World Cup visa arrangements.
Adams explained that the decision should not be interpreted as a dismissal, stressing that the matter remains under investigation and that several layers of inquiry are being pursued to establish the facts surrounding the allegations.
“Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has not been sacked; he has been asked to step aside. There are layers of investigations,” the minister stated.
According to Adams, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is investigating the alleged fraud linked to World Cup visa arrangements involving the NSA, an institution responsible for managing and overseeing public sports facilities and supporting sporting activities in Ghana.
The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged visa arrangements, including the individuals involved and the processes through which the transactions were handled.
The minister’s comments indicate that the authorities are allowing the investigative process to proceed while administrative measures remain in place. Asking Ankrah to step aside is therefore distinct from formally terminating his appointment.
The development places the NSA under scrutiny as investigators work to establish what happened and determine whether any wrongdoing occurred. However, the allegations remain subject to investigation, and no conclusion about individual culpability should be drawn before the relevant authorities complete their work.
Adams’ clarification also underscores the need to distinguish between an administrative decision and a final determination arising from a criminal investigation.
The focus remains on the CID’s inquiries and the other investigative processes being pursued to establish the facts surrounding the alleged World Cup visa fraud.
