Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has dismissed as false allegations made by the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, concerning the 2026 FIFA World Cup raffle.
Adams insisted that all participants in the initial raffle, including the winners, received full refunds after the exercise was discontinued. He further disclosed that travel documents for all 31 winners of the second raffle were processed, but only five successfully secured United States visas to attend the tournament.
According to the minister, the majority of those who did not obtain visas rejected an earlier alternative arrangement and preferred a refund or other compensation in line with the original terms.
“According to the information that was submitted to us, almost all of them disagreed with that arrangement. What it meant was that they agree with the original arrangement of refunding their moneys to them,” Adams said.
He explained the outcome of the second raffle in detail: “The second raffle was launched and winners were about 31. All these winners were processed.plllllwere successful. Five secured visas out of the 31. The rest were either refused—in other words, denied visas—or their dates that they got was outside of the period of the World Cup.”
For those denied visas or whose interview dates fell outside the tournament window, the ministry offered two options: priority consideration for future competitions, or a financial payment. Some winners chose the monetary option.
“The alternate arrangement for those who were even refused and those who did not get dates to appear for visa interview was that any future competition, they will be given the opportunity to attend. Subsequently, another option was given that a certain amount of money be given them. Some opted for that. And as we speak, the remainder of the winners who did not get opportunity to go for the World Cup, we are in the process of working that out and for them to get a financial reward,” the minister.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
