President John Dramani Mahama has removed National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah from office following controversy surrounding an alleged visa facilitation scheme linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The decision comes weeks after allegations emerged that some individuals seeking to travel to the tournament were charged significant amounts of money for assistance with visa applications and travel arrangements.
The controversy attracted public attention after the Minority Caucus in Parliament called for Ampofo Ankrah to be dismissed or suspended while investigations into the allegations continued.
The Minority claimed that more than 600-thousand US dollars had been collected through the alleged arrangement, with some applicants reportedly paying as much as 8-thousand US dollars for assistance.
The matter also reportedly led to questioning by the Criminal Investigations Department as part of efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged scheme.
The Minority maintained that Ampofo Ankrah should not continue to occupy his position while investigations into the matter were ongoing.
However, the National Sports Authority denied authorising any visa facilitation service or the collection of money from members of the public in connection with the World Cup.
The Authority also indicated that its legal team was cooperating with the police as investigations into the allegations continued.
Ampofo Ankrah’s removal comes amid continuing scrutiny of the Authority over the controversy, although the allegations remain subject to investigation.
The development follows President Mahama’s decision on September 2 to dissolve the governing board of the National Sports Authority with immediate effect. Ampofo Ankrah was among those affected by the dissolution in his capacity as Director-General.
The latest decision adds another development to the ongoing controversy over the alleged visa arrangement, as investigations seek to establish the facts surrounding the matter.
