The Old Tafo MP, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to probe alleged corruption and abuse of office in the handling of visa slots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The petition, dated October 15, cites the National Sports Authority (NSA), Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and also questions the roles of TRIBE Culture Fest, the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) and other parties.
The MP wants CHRAJ to independently scrutinise how beneficiaries were selected, how official claims were made, how monies were handled and how accountable the institutions have been.
According to him, the issues raise serious questions about transparency, beneficiary verification and management of payments.
“I am not asking the Commission to accept allegations as proven. I am asking it to examine the records, demand answers from the public institutions concerned and establish whether corruption, abuse of power or administrative injustice occurred,” he said.
NSA-TRIBE Deal
Assafuah referenced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NSA and TRIBE Culture Fest signed on June 2, 2025, and a supplementary deal on January 19, 2026.
The supplementary deal allegedly pegged visa facilitation fees at $3,000 per person for the US and $2,000 for Canada.
He also flagged a list of 102 names submitted on June 8, 2026, of which only 15 could be confirmed as NSA staff from the records he reviewed, demanding documentary proof for the rest.
“Any official declaration about a person’s institutional affiliation must be based on facts,” he noted, adding that failure to verify someone from a particular record alone does not prove wrongdoing.
He wants CHRAJ to uncover the selection criteria, the documents used for verification and the officials who approved and forwarded the lists to embassies.
GTA Slots Under Scrutiny
The petition also asks CHRAJ to probe visa slots handled through GTA, where its CEO, Maame Efua Houadjeto, is said to have been linked to 400 US slots and 800 Canadian slots.
Assafuah wants the selection process, approvals, spending and handling of sponsorship funds investigated.
He further cited a July 2026 petition by 14 GTA regional directors who reportedly demanded clarity from the CEO on the allocation of the 400 slots and use of sponsorship money.
“That senior officers in the same institution found it necessary to formally seek explanations raises issues about information flow and internal checks,” he said, stressing that the directors’ action alone does not prove misconduct but must be weighed against management’s response, allocation records and audit reports.
GHATOF Payments
On GHATOF, the MP claimed an initial allocation of 4 slots was later increased to 20, with each person allegedly charged about GH¢2,250, but visa fees were not paid to the embassy and refunds were not made.
He is asking CHRAJ to verify this through receipts, bank statements and testimonies from affected applicants.
The petition also mentions a list of 50 people, including about 30 said to be members of an Ahwele or Ashawele dance group, whose identities and eligibility need confirmation.
Assafuah wants to know who picked the beneficiaries, what criteria were used, who collected the money and whether services were delivered.
Possible Abuse Of Office
Beyond the alleged inconsistencies, the MP wants CHRAJ to determine if any public official used their position for personal gain, secured undue benefits or had hidden financial interest in the deals.
He also wants an assessment of whether proper records, financial controls and oversight systems existed.He said institutional lapses must be separated from individual misconduct.
“A public institution should not be blamed for every action of a private entity it deals with. Likewise, a public officer should not escape scrutiny where his decisions or approvals may have led to irregularities,” he argued.
What He Wants
Assafuah is urging CHRAJ to admit the petition, retrieve all relevant records and compel the agencies to justify their actions, investigate the beneficiary list anomalies, probe the visa allocations and payment handling, and establish whether any official breached legal or administrative duties.
Where criminal conduct is suspected, he wants the matter referred to the appropriate investigative or prosecuting body.
He said an independent probe will clarify the facts, protect the reputation of those named, and expose gaps in administrative and financial oversight.
He added that he is ready to provide documents in his custody to aid the investigation.The petition does not conclude that those named are guilty but seeks an independent finding and appropriate sanctions if evidence is found.
The action comes amid growing public scrutiny over alleged visa racketeering involving GTA and NSA, with the Minority alleging applicants were charged between $7,000 and $14,000 for visa support.
President John Dramani Mahama has already asked NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah to step aside pending police investigations into the matter.
