Ghana MP: GTA Visa Scandal Allegations Prompt CEO Suspension Call

• MP Vincent Assafuah alleged that over 30 individuals were falsely presented as Ghana Tourism Authority board members or affiliates to the US Embassy.
• These misrepresentations were reportedly made to secure 2026 FIFA World Cup visas, despite the GTA board having only about 11 members.
• Assafuah called for the suspension of GTA CEO Maame Efua Sekyi-Aidoo Houadjeto to facilitate an investigation into the Ghana Tourism Authority visa scandal.
• The allegations include claims of individuals obtaining visas by falsely asserting GTA board membership, though some specific claims remain unverified.
• The MP also challenged the Ministry of Sports' timeline for its engagement with the US Embassy regarding the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing an email referencing earlier meetings.

The alleged misrepresentation of over 30 people as GTA board members, when the actual board is much smaller, points to a severe breakdown in oversight and accountability.

Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has brought forward serious allegations concerning the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and its interactions with the United States Embassy. Mr. Assafuah claims that a document submitted to the embassy misrepresented over 30 individuals as either board members or affiliates of the GTA. These alleged misrepresentations were reportedly made in connection with engagements surrounding the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to Mr. Assafuah, the GTA's board comprises approximately 11 members, making the list of over 30 individuals highly questionable. He specifically called for the suspension of the GTA's Chief Executive Officer, Maame Efua Sekyi-Aidoo Houadjeto, to allow for a thorough investigation into what he describes as a significant misrepresentation. The MP cited several individuals, including an unnamed person who allegedly obtained a visa by claiming GTA board membership via a WhatsApp exchange, despite not being a member. He also questioned the inclusion of names like Pasa Lenda Esidwa, Pasa Lisa Zola, and Pasa Antoinette Aram, suggesting they were improperly introduced as board members. However, these specific claims and identities have not been independently verified beyond Mr. Assafuah's interview account.

Mr. Assafuah further detailed that the document in question was presented to the embassy with the stated purpose of identifying members of the GTA board. He noted that actual board members include Samuel Seth Passah, representing the Ministry of Local Government, Yusif Issaka Jajah, and the GTA chief executive. He also mentioned Gertrude Emefa Donkor, who is a member of the GTA board and the Managing Director of GoldBod Jewellery Ltd. The current GTA board chairperson is Phyllis Engmann. The substantial discrepancy between the actual board size and the number of individuals listed raises significant concerns about the integrity of the process.

The allegations by Vincent Assafuah are part of a broader push for accountability by the Minority in Parliament. Initially, the Minority had sought the removal of the Minister for Sports and the Acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong. However, following a review of what Mr. Assafuah termed as evidence related to the list submitted to the US Embassy, their demand expanded to include the GTA chief executive, Maame Efua Sekyi-Aidoo Houadjeto, as part of the Ghana Tourism Authority visa scandal.

Beyond the visa misrepresentation, Mr. Assafuah also challenged the Ministry of Sports' official timeline regarding its initial engagements with the US Embassy concerning the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He presented an email dated February 3, 2026, from Rukmini Kukuaa Coffie, a Public Engagement Specialist in the Public Diplomacy Section of the US Embassy's Emerging Voices program. This email, as read by the MP, referenced prior discussions from an October 22, 2025, FIFA World Cup 2026 stakeholder meeting and extended an invitation to a 'third' stakeholder meeting. Mr. Assafuah argued that these references indicate that engagements between the Ministry and the embassy commenced well before March or April 2026, the period the Ministry of Sports had publicly stated as the start of its interactions.

The Vincent Assafuah GTA allegations underscore significant Ghana government compliance issues and potential legal liabilities for public officials and state entities engaged in international affairs. Misrepresenting individuals to a foreign embassy, particularly for travel purposes like 2026 FIFA World Cup visas, could constitute US Embassy Ghana visa fraud and carries serious implications for diplomatic relations and national integrity. Such actions highlight a critical need for stringent internal protocols governing official delegations and visa applications.

This incident brings to the forefront the imperative for government bodies to ensure absolute adherence to anti-corruption and immigration laws. The alleged misrepresentation of over 30 people as GTA board members, when the actual board is much smaller, points to a severe breakdown in oversight and accountability. Lawyers advising government entities or individuals involved in these processes should meticulously review existing frameworks to prevent similar misrepresentations and safeguard against potential legal repercussions, both domestically and internationally. The integrity of official representations to foreign governments is paramount, and any deviation poses substantial risks to Ghana's reputation and its officials.

This scandal highlights significant compliance risks and potential legal liabilities for Ghanaian public officials and state entities involved in international engagements, particularly concerning official representations to foreign governments for travel purposes. Lawyers advising government bodies or individuals involved in such processes should review internal protocols for official delegations and visa applications to prevent similar misrepresentations and ensure adherence to anti-corruption and immigration laws.

Source: Original reporting via JoyNews