The Minority in Parliament is demanding a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the alleged visa racketeering scandal related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The controversy follows allegations that more than 600,000 US dollars was collected from individuals seeking visa and travel assistance for the tournament, with some applicants reportedly charged between 7,000 and 14,000 US dollars.
The allegations have triggered investigations by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), while the Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has been suspended pending investigations.
Assafuah boycotts Presidential committee
Speaking to journalists in Parliament on November 5, the Ranking Member on the Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, revealed that he had rejected an invitation to appear before a Presidential committee investigating the matter.
The Old Tafo legislator said he boycotted the invitation on principle, explaining that the committee’s work has been shrouded in opacity.
Mr Assafuah insists the matter is seriously tainted with corruption and deserves serious national attention.
He told journalists that petitions have been sent to the Special Prosecutor and the President himself for an independent commission of inquiry into the issues.
Well-orchestrated scheme
Mr Assafuah accused the organisers of turning what was presented as a fan reward scheme into an extortion exercise.
“The so-called World Cup bonanza raffle, which was deceptively packaged as a golden opportunity for 220 loyal Ghanaian supporters to travel and support the Black Stars at the 2026 World Cup, was turned into a well-orchestrated scheme to extort and milk the little money left in the pockets of suffering Ghanaians,” he said.
What next?
The Minority says only an independent Commission of Inquiry, with public hearings and full powers to compel evidence, can establish the truth about how much money was collected, who benefited, and why hundreds of applicants did not travel.
Meanwhile, Sports Minister Kofi Adams says winners of the all-expenses-paid raffle for the 2026 FIFA World Cup who were unable to attend the tournament will be duly compensated.
He assures that the funds raised for the raffle are secure, adding that affected winners can either receive financial compensation or opt to attend future sporting events.
The Impuntu World Cup raffle was introduced to reward loyal football fans with fully funded trips to the 2026 Mundial but has since come under scrutiny.
The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns about the management of the raffle and the fate of winners who did not travel. However, Mr Adams has dismissed the allegations, insisting their claims are unfounded.
Funds untouched
Speaking on the matter on November 5, Mr Adams said the process to compensate the remaining winners was already underway.
“And as we speak, the remainder of the winners who did not get the opportunity to go for the World Cup, we are in the process of working that out and for them to get a financial reward,” he said.
“Every pesewa of the raffle that was run by Impuntu has not been touched. That money has not been touched.”
He explained that the fundraising committee was still holding the funds to ensure that every winner is appropriately compensated.
“But the fundraising committee is still holding on to those funds to make sure that everybody is appropriately compensated,” he said.
Dismisses Minority claims
Mr Adams rejected claims by the Minority in Parliament over alleged irregularities surrounding the raffle.
“So, if the NPP Minority in Parliament is running a story and talking about foreign numbers and what have you, that’s a complete lie. The winners know they have their leaders and they have been engaging,” he said.
Five winners travelled
According to the Minister, five winners were successful in securing visas and travelled to the United States of America for the tournament.
“Five were successful, they got their visas and travelled to the United States of America and are all back. They participated in every event, they went to watch the games and are back,” he said.
He added that those who could not travel have not lost out, as their records remain intact.
“Those who did not get the opportunity still have the opportunity either to attend a future competition because the record is there, or if they opt for the financial reward, they will be given the financial reward,” he said.
