Minister for Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams has rejected calls by the Minority in Parliament for his dismissal over an alleged visa scandal involving individuals seeking to travel to the FIFA World Cup.
About 90 people reportedly paid between $10,000 and $15,000 each in connection with the travel arrangements, but only five secured visas for the tournament, which was staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The controversy has triggered calls for accountability, with National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah already suspended.
JoySports reports that further action is expected at the Sports Ministry as the Presidency prepares to launch a probe into the matter.
Adams denies Ministry’s involvement
Responding to calls for his removal, Mr Adams questioned the basis for his dismissal, insisting that the government had not lost any money.
“Government money has not been lost,” he told Citi News.
“Well, I don’t see the justification. Both the American Embassy and TRIBE Culture Fest, the NSA and the GTA were doing their thing behind the Ministry. The Ministry didn’t know,” he said.
Mr Adams maintained that the Ministry was not aware of the arrangements until it received a letter requesting the submission of details of event coordinators and volunteers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy.
“The first time I ever sat and had a conversation in relation to that matter was when the May 19 letter requested the forwarding of event coordinators and volunteers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy. That’s when I got to know the details of what was happening,” he added.
The controversy is expected to be examined in the planned presidential probe, which could determine the circumstances surrounding the visa arrangements and establish responsibility for any wrongdoing.
