The Minority in Parliament has called for the immediate dismissal or suspension of the Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) over an alleged visa facilitation fraud linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Minority says the NSA Director-General and some staff have reportedly been appearing before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for questioning over about US$600,000 allegedly generated through the arrangement.
Addressing journalists, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, said a private entity allegedly operated from an NSA facility to facilitate travel arrangements, with some individuals reportedly charged up to US$8,000.
“We have also received information that individuals were allegedly charged as much as eight thousand dollars each for the assistance with their travel arrangements and that posters advertising these services were prominently displayed at the NSU offices and around the stadium,” he said.
Mr. Assafuah also questioned the authorization of the arrangement and the handling of the funds.
“The question is simple. Why was a private entity permitted to operate from a state sports facility to facilitate such transactions? Who authorized it? Who received the money? What service was actually provided and what happened to those who paid but did not get what they were promised?” he asked.
He said the reported CID questioning of the NSA Director-General and some staff makes the matter more serious.
“There is a further development that makes this matter even more serious. The director general of the National Sports Authority and some staff have reportedly been appearing before the criminal investigation department for questioning over the alleged fraudulent World Cup visa facilitation arrangement,” he said.
Mr. Assafuah stressed that the Minority was not declaring anyone guilty but said the NSA boss should step aside while investigations continue.
“We are not prejudging the outcome of the investigation and we will not declare anyone guilty before the facts are established,” he said.
He added, “When the head of a state institution is being questioned by the police over allegations connected to activities reportedly carried out within or around that institution, the appropriate thing to do is to step aside while the investigation is ongoing.”
The Minority has consequently called on President John Mahama to dismiss the NSA Director-General or, at the very least, require him to step aside pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
