Yaw Ampofo Ankrah: I am confident I will be exonerated over 2026 World Cup visa scandal

Former National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah says he is confident he will be cleared of any wrongdoing in the ongoing investigations into alleged visa racketeering linked to Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.

Ampofo Ankrah was suspended following allegations that about $623,000 had been collected from prospective travellers seeking assistance with visa applications and travel arrangements for the tournament. The suspension followed a directive from President John Dramani Mahama, with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service investigating the allegations of financial irregularities.

Speaking about his suspension, Ampofo Ankrah said he respected the investigative process and would wait for the findings before making further comments on the matter. “I’m 200% confident that I’ll be exonerated,” he said. He also urged the media and the public to exercise caution and avoid spreading unverified information while the investigations remain ongoing.

“People should be very cautious about what they put out there that they cannot verify,” Ampofo Ankrah said, calling on journalists to verify their sources and report the developments professionally. The former NSA boss said the investigations had progressed smoothly so far and expressed his willingness to cooperate with the authorities.

“I’m very happy that so far the investigations have gone very smoothly, and we’re just waiting for the final report to be released,” he added. Ampofo Ankrah disclosed that he had met with the police on two occasions and would provide further information if required by investigators.

The allegations have drawn significant public attention, with the authorities seeking to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported payments and the arrangements made for prospective travellers ahead of the World Cup.

Following Ampofo Ankrah’s suspension, Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong was appointed Acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority. The investigations are ongoing, and no final findings have been announced. Ampofo Ankrah’s expectation of exoneration remains his stated position as the authorities continue their work.