Suspended National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah is being investigated over allegations that individuals seeking to travel to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup were charged for visa and travel assistance.
The Minority in Parliament alleged that more than US$600,000 was collected from people seeking assistance under the arrangement, with some applicants allegedly paying as much as US$8,000.
Mr Ampofo Ankrah and other NSA officials have since been questioned by security authorities as part of the investigation.
The NSA has denied authorising any visa facilitation or money-collection scheme and said its legal team is cooperating with the investigation.
The development follows Mr Ampofo Ankrah’s removal as Director-General, with Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong appointed as Acting Director-General.
Prof. Sarpong, an Associate Professor of Physical Education and Sports at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), takes over as scrutiny of the Authority’s operations continues.
Mr Ampofo Ankrah’s removal comes after President John Dramani Mahama dissolved the NSA’s governing board on September 2, 2026. He was a member of the dissolved board but continued overseeing the Authority’s day-to-day operations after the board was dissolved.
