Mahama dismisses NSA DG over World Cup visa scandal
President Mahama has removed NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah following parliamentary pressure and a police probe into a visa-for-sale scheme targeting 2026 World Cup fans.
President John Dramani Mahama has officially removed Yaw Ampofo Ankrah from his post as Director-General of the National Sports Authority.
The dismissal follows mounting pressure from the Minority Party in Parliament, which had publicly called for Ampofo Ankrah’s exit over claims he enabled a fraudulent visa-for-hire operation linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Allegations suggest individuals were forced to pay up to $8,000 for processed travel documents through intermediaries claiming NSA connections. The scheme reportedly collected over $600,000 from at least 75 people.
Ampofo Ankrah’s tenure had already come under strain after President Mahama dissolved the NSA governing board in early September of this year. Though the board was disbanded, he continued managing daily operations until the recent sack. In his place, Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, a senior academic in Physical Education at the University of Education, Winneba, has been named Acting Director-General.
The National Sports Authority maintains it had no direct role in the alleged visa facilitation and says it is fully cooperating with ongoing police investigations. The scandal adds to broader scrutiny of sports administration in Ghana ahead of major international tournaments.
