President John Dramani Mahama has removed Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) and has appointed Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong to act in the role.
Prof. Sarpong, an Associate Professor of Physical Education and Sports at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), takes over as the Authority faces scrutiny over the management of Ghana’s sporting facilities and an ongoing police investigation.
The leadership change comes less than a month after President Mahama dissolved the NSA’s governing board on September 2, 2026.
Ampofo Ankrah, who was a member of the dissolved board, remained in charge of the Authority’s daily operations.
His tenure has also come under pressure over allegations surrounding a visa facilitation scheme linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Minority in Parliament called for his suspension or dismissal after alleging that more than US$600,000 was collected from people seeking assistance with visa and travel arrangements, with some allegedly paying as much as US$8,000.
The Criminal Investigations Department questioned Ampofo Ankrah and other NSA officials as part of the probe.
The NSA has denied involvement in any visa facilitation or money-collection scheme, describing the allegations as false. Its legal team has said the Authority is cooperating with the police investigation.
Ampofo Ankrah’s removal also follows concerns about the state of major sporting venues, including the Accra Sports Stadium and Baba Yara Sports Stadium, which have faced questions over their suitability for hosting major events.
Prof. Sarpong now assumes leadership of the NSA amid heightened attention on the management and maintenance of Ghana’s sports infrastructure.
