The Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) and some officials of the Authority have been accused of involvement in an alleged scheme in which more than US$623,000 was collected from prospective travellers seeking assistance to obtain visas to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States and Canada.

About nine victims who spoke to JoySports revealed that they paid between $4,000 and $25,000 for visa application support through some NSA officials ahead of the tournament.

One of the victims, a woman, paid GHS 158,000 to an NSA staff member. JoySports understands that the staff member is refunding the money in instalments after his unsuccessful attempt to secure visas for three people.

The woman, whom JoySports will identify only as Madam Joyce, said she took out a loan from a microfinance company in an attempt to secure the visas for the three applicants. She has a Travel and Tour agency.

As of the time of filing this report, the staff member had refunded about GH¢100,000.

The Chief Operations Officer (COO), Nana Gyamfi Awere, whose office JoySports reported in February this year was not provided for in the NSA's organisational structure, has been implicated in the alleged scheme alongside the Director-General, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.

JoySports contacted the NSA boss by phone following the allegations, but Mr Ankrah could not be reached. He later responded to a text message sent to him on September 15, stating that he was unaware of any such scheme.

Letter to US Embassy

JoySports has intercepted a letter signed by the Chief Operations Officer and addressed to the Consular Section of the US Embassy on March 18, 2026, confirming the appointment of four people as NSA staff members and assigning them roles that, according to JoySports' findings, do not exist within the Authority's organisational structure.

The letter stated: "I, Yaw Gyamfi Kusi Awere, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the National Sports Authority (NSA), hereby confirm that the individuals listed below are bona fide employees of the Authority. They are currently in good standing and actively engaged in their respective roles within the NSA."

The letter listed the following individuals:

1. Ralph Egyir Quainoo – Operations Coordinator
2. Belinda Tsey – Business Administrator
3. Francis Frimpong Agyemang – World Cup Coordinator
4. Beryl Joycelyn Baabe Duut – Research and Technology Officer

It further stated:

"The National Sports Authority fully supports their travel to the United States for the official purpose of conducting a reconnaissance (recce) mission for the World Cup Fun Fest, in partnership with Tribe Culture Fest.

"We further confirm that all listed staff members are expected to return to Ghana upon completion of this assignment to resume their official duties with the Authority.

"This letter is issued in support of their visa application. Should you require any additional information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact the office of the Chief Operating Officer."

The letter was accompanied by the applicants' passport numbers, which JoySports has withheld to protect their confidentiality.

The individuals were denied visas on March 16, 2026, per the document, because they could not provide employment letters. The dates raise questions about the timing of the correspondence, as the letter confirming their employment was dated two days after the reported visa refusals.

An email dated Wednesday, January 28, 2026, also referred to another group, numbering 22, as staff members of the NSA who needed visas to travel to the USA for a recce.

It stated: "...the NSA staff members for whom, we were awaiting a group appointment date. All individuals are now been scheduled independently, with a significant number confirmed for the same day.

"These staff members are part of the official reconnaissance team for the Ghana Fun Fest and tournament activities."

Questions over staff positions

One Comfort Ahiadome, who was listed as the Board Secretary, was not the Board Secretary, JoySports gathered.

At the time, the Board did not have a secretary. Instead, the NSA's Head of Human Resources attended Board meetings to record proceedings, according to JoySports' findings.

Felicia Ahiadome was also identified as a Procurement Officer, although the position was held by Emmanuel Twumasi, a cousin of former NSA Director-General Professor Twumasi.

In April 2026, JoySports understands that the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, sought clarification from Mr Ankrah on the identities of six individuals after the US Embassy contacted his office to establish whether they were employees of the Ministry or the NSA.

The six individuals were Leticia Yeboah, Benjamin Asirifi, Samuel Pabi, Murad Dahamani, Paul Owoahene and Abdul Samed Iddris.

According to information available to JoySports, the NSA Director-General indicated on April 14 to Sports Minister that he was unaware of a letter sent to the Embassy and denied knowing the six individuals when asked to provide their dates of employment, staff numbers, payroll numbers, duty posts and other employment details.

The individuals were also denied visas after the Minister confirmed to the Embassy that they were not employed by his Ministry.

The Minister subsequently questioned the Chief Operations Officer about why he had written the letter to the Embassy. Mr Awere allegedly claimed that he had acted on the instructions of the Director-General, who had denied knowledge of the arrangement.

According to claims made to JoySports, when the COO confronted Mr Ankrah over his denial to the Minister, the Director-General told the Minister that the individuals were auxiliary staff of the NSA.

However, the explanation came too late to reverse the outcome, as the Minister could not return to the Embassy to clarify that the individuals were auxiliary staff.

Police raised concerns over visa facilitation office

Allegations suggest that this was not the first time Mr Ankrah had denied knowledge of an arrangement involving visa facilitation.

Earlier in the year, the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, had contacted the Director-General over an office established at the NSA to facilitate visas for prospective World Cup travellers.

Mr Gyamfi confirmed the IGP's conversation with Mr Ampofo Ankrah, when JoySports asked if it ever came to his attention.

However, JoySports' checks indicate that the office existed following partnerships involving the NSA, Tribe Culture Fest and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).

On May 21, 2026, JoySports' Muftawu Nabila Abdulai reported the arrest of NSA staff members over suspected visa fraud.

Information available at the time indicated that some staff members were acting as agents, collecting money from unsuspecting Ghanaians and passing it on to Tribe Culture Fest CEO Nana Boateng Gyimah to facilitate the process.

One victim claimed to have paid $4,000 to a person identified as Jude, whose identity JoySports could not immediately verify.

JoySports also attempted to reach Mr Gyimah but was unsuccessful. Sources claimed he was "extremely busy" during the build-up to the World Cup.

Petition alleges payments of $511,000 and $56,000

JoySports intercepted a petition filed with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service in which Nana Boateng Gyimah and Yaw Ampofo Ankrah are accused of receiving $511,000 and $56,000, respectively, from Nana Gyamfi Awere, the NSA's Chief Operations Officer.

JoySports spoke to Mr Awere, who admitted to the allegations and confirmed details gathered by the newsroom.

When JoySports drew his attention to the petition on September 8, 2026, he acknowledged filing it.

The petition alleges that senior NSA officials, employees and other individuals were involved in collecting money from Ghanaians who were promised assistance with visa applications and travel to the World Cup.

JoySports' investigation uncovered documentary and audio evidence relating to how the alleged visa operation was organised, who collected the money, how commissions were allegedly shared and why applicants who paid substantial sums are now demanding refunds.

A document sighted by JoySports indicates that the NSA Director-General, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, wrote to the Sports Ministry seeking support for the agency to obtain visas for 90 people described as "volunteers/event coordinators - FIFA World Cup activities".

JoySports' investigation found that these individuals paid between $4,000 and $10,000.

Those who required visas for both the United States and Canada were charged $15,000.

One applicant, Nana Kwame, told JoySports that he paid US$25,000 as a deposit for five people, but none of them obtained visas.

Another individual, identified as Twumasi, said he submitted 47 names for visa processing, but none of the applicants obtained visas.

JoySports had reported on May 3, 2026, that about 30 applicants were denied visas.

It remains unclear whether the Ministry was aware of the payments. However, it issued a cover letter supporting the NSA's request on May 28, 2026.

JoySports understands that the NSA was allocated 10 slots for the World Cup. However, people familiar with the arrangement said the NSA, GTA and Ghana Football Association (GFA) had separate arrangements with the Embassy under which they could submit requests for visa processing.

The three institutions were subsequently instructed not to deal directly with the diplomatic missions after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs intervened.

In a letter signed by its Chief Director, Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, on behalf of the Minister, the Ministry stated:

"In line with existing arrangements, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for transmitting the names of nominated officials from MDAs to the respective Diplomatic Missions in support of their visa applications.

"To facilitate this arrangement and ensure proper due diligence, the list of nominated officials from MDAs travelling for the FIFA World Cup are to be submitted through the Ministry of Sports and Recreation."

The letter also made clear the restrictions governing official travel:

"It is important to note that employees of affiliated entities who are not traveling in any official capacity are not entitled to official visas and should not be included in the list."

Despite this directive, the Ministry issued the cover letter supporting the NSA's request. Several applicants told JoySports they paid money in connection with the process.

Many did not obtain visas, while others never received appointment dates for interviews.

JoySports also spoke to the Chief Operations Officer, who admitted receiving money from applicants.

COO alleges Director-General introduced visa facilitator

In his petition, Mr Awere described how he was allegedly introduced to Nana Boateng Gyimah.

He stated: “Yaw took me to a meeting at the American Embassy somewhere in August last year after Ghana had qualified for the World Cup and after the meeting when we came out from the room to the main entrance of the embassy, I saw Yaw with some group of people having some discussions then he called me to come and that was when he introduced Nana Boateng Gyimah who he said he is the CEO of Tribe Culture Feast, the wife Kristen Gyimah and Asempa of GTA."

The petition alleges that Mr Ankrah introduced Mr Gyimah as someone capable of facilitating visas for people wishing to travel to the United States and Canada for the World Cup.

Mr Awere claims: "Yaw told me that Nana Gyimah aka Nana Tribe can facilitate visas for people including the NSA staff to travel to the USA and the Canada to watch the 2026 FIFA world cup so I should lease with him and report to him Yaw as my Director General which I was doing according to his instructions."

Mr Awere further alleged in his petition that, in November 2025, Mr Gyimah secured visas for Mr Ankrah, himself and six other NSA staff members.

The petition makes a further allegation that Mr Ankrah subsequently provided Mr Gyimah with an office at the Accra Sports Stadium.

“In November 2025, Nana Tribe was able to facilitate secured visas for Yaw, myself and other six staff at the American Embassy thereafter, Yaw now officially gave Nana Tribe an office at the Accra sports stadium to operate."

When JoySports contacted the NSA, the Authority denied establishing or authorising an office at the stadium for visa facilitation.

The petition also alleges that the majority of applicants who paid money through Mr Awere had been referred to him by the Director-General.

“About 80% of the people who came to pay their visas deposit to me to be given to Nana Tribe were directed from Yaw to me apart from some few NSA staff that came to ddiretly."

When JoySports contacted Mr Ankrah, he denied the allegations. He also denied knowledge of the petition.

However, JoySports has obtained recordings in which the Director-General is allegedly heard asking Mr Awere to withdraw the petition from the CID.

In one of the recordings, Mr Ankrah is also heard saying:

“If it were me who was arrested, I would never had mentioned your name (Nana Gyamfi) as part of it.

“Yaw had admitted taking a visa money commission from Nana Tribe through me…"

JoySports understands that Mr Ankrah and Tribe Culture Fest CEO Nana Boateng Gyimah have been invited by the police to assist with investigations.

Dispute over commissions and refunds

According to sources familiar with the petition, about $56,000 allegedly received by Mr Ankrah as commission was expected to be returned to help refund applicants who had either been denied visas or had not secured interview dates.

JoySports' sources say Mr Ankrah has been reluctant to return the money.

Mr Gyamfi is also seeking the return of money allegedly received by Mr Gyimah.

In his petition, Mr Awere said he had already refunded more than 70 per cent of the commission he received and had undertaken to pay the remainder to the CID.

When JoySports spoke with him, he said he had refunded $35,000 and was working on paying $11,000 more this week, but he's hoping the police would assist him retrieve the remaining from Yaw and 'Nana Tribe Fest', so that it could be refunded to the victim's.

He alleged that approximately $511,000 remained with Tribe Culture Fest.

"The total amount of the money with Tribe is $511000," he stated.

The petition claims that only a small number of applicants were successful, while the majority either had their visa applications refused or never obtained the opportunity to attend interviews.

Mr Awere further stated:

"I have asked Yaw also to bring what has come to him so that I add it to the one that has come to me too so that we can settle the people and get hold of Nana Tribe to pay the 90% of the money that is with him but Yaw is also not complying…"

It's unclear what the presidency would do, but JoySports understands Gyamfi has met with the Sports Minister to present evidence against his one time boss.

If the Ministry presents a detailed report to the Jubilee House, Mr Ankrah could be relieved of his duties if the president's mantra of reset and zero tolerance to wrongdoing is to he followed.