The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has dismissed claims that some members of Ghana’s government-sponsored delegation to the 2026 FIFA World Cup have remained in the United States and Canada after the tournament.
The Minority in Parliament on Thursday, September 17, 2026, alleged that the Sports Minister’s driver and the secretary at the office of the Ministry’s Chief Director were among 431 people sponsored by the government to attend the tournament who had not yet returned to Ghana.
The Minority challenged the government’s assertion that all 431 sponsored travellers had returned to Ghana, pointing to the two officials as alleged overstayers.
Appearing before Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee, Mr Adams said the Ghanaian government had not received any official notification from either the United States or Canada concerning visa overstays involving members of the delegation.
“They don’t have that information. This information may be one of the fake
news” he said.
The Minister said he met with officials of the US Embassy in Ghana on Wednesday, including the new Consular Officer and Head of the Political Section, but no concerns were raised about any Ghanaian World Cup delegates allegedly overstaying their visas.
“This matter of anybody overstaying his or her visa was never raised with us. They have never written to the Minister for Foreign Affairs that any such thing happened,” he said.
Mr Adams also questioned the source of the Minority’s information, noting that the alleged visa overstays had not been communicated to the government through any official channel.
“And so I don’t know the time you became the American ambassador in Ghana for you to know much about Ghanaians who have travelled there and have not returned,” he said.
He said Ghana’s engagement with US officials had been positive, noting that the embassy commended the country’s efforts and discussions also focused on preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games.
“They actually have commended Ghana and they have asked us that towards the Olympic Games, we should start much earlier so that they will be able to process more persons,” he said.
Mr Adams consequently rejected the Minority’s claim about alleged visa overstays.