Accountability Must Extend Beyond Ankrah’s Removal, Assafuah Warns
Vincent Ekow Assafuah urges that the saga does not end with the NSA Director-General's removal
The removal of National Sports Authority Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah will not mark the end of scrutiny over the World Cup visa controversy, according to Ranking Member of Parliament for the Youth and Sports Committee Vincent Assafuah.
Assafuah stressed that investigations into the alleged collection of roughly US$623,000 from prospective travellers must continue, even after Ankrah’s suspension. The police have opened a case into accusations that the NSA facilitated visas for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bringing several figures connected to the matter before the Criminal Investigations Department.
The NSA’s position is that it never authorised any visa facilitation or money‑gathering scheme. Yet Assafuah argues this numbers more than a simple managerial change; it points to a ministerial duty that must also be examined. He warned that dismissing only the NSA chief risks treating the symptom while leaving the deeper issue untouched.
“The buck ultimately stops with the Minister,” Assafuah said, emphasizing that the Minister of Sports and Recreation must shoulder part of the responsibility. He added that unless the minister is also held accountable, the controversy could fester rather than be resolved.
The Minority in Parliament had earlier called for Ankrah to step aside or be dismissed until the allegations are fully probed.
