BNI probes suspended NSA DG over $623,000 World Cup visa scheme
BNI is investigating suspended National Sports Authority Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah over allegations of collecting over $600,000 for World Cup visa processing.
The Bureau of National Investigations has traced alleged collections of more than $623,000 from persons seeking help to travel to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The matter has been linked to Mr Ampofo Ankrah who previously headed the National Sports Authority, an agency now led by Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong as interim director.
Parliamentary minority spokesperson Isaac Adwoa Mensah has argued that some applicants were billed up to $8,000 for assistance that was supposed to include visa processing and travel logistics. He has said the allegations merit urgent parliamentary scrutiny.
Mr Ampofo Ankrah appeared before the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service on September 8, where he denied any involvement in money collection for visa facilitation. He has not been formally charged and continues to deny the claims.
The NSA issued a statement in September insisting it never authorised any visa facilitation service nor operated an office for collecting fees from prospective travellers. The Authority said its official relationship with FIFA‑licensed partner TRIBE FEST does not extend to authorising money collection for visa procurement.
Professor Sarpong was appointed Acting Director-General after the Board dismissed Mr Ampofo Ankrah from office. He holds a doctorate in Physical Education from the University of Education, Winneba and has served as a senior academic in sports science.
Calls for accountability have intensified. Ekow Assafuah, Acting Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, has urged that the investigation not be allowed to fade without thorough public accounting. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia has also called for stricter oversight of any foreign travel arrangements linked to major sporting events.
In a related development, Bawumia has expressed support for the President’s directive to dissolve the current NSA board and replace it with a new one led by former Deputy Minister of Finance Kofi Osei‑Sarpong. The new board is expected to prioritise transparency in all international travel tied to the World Cup.
The BNI probe remains ongoing, with authorities saying further arrests and statements are anticipated as they seek to establish whether a criminal network existed that exploited fans ahead of the tournament.
