GH: Yaw Ampofo Ankrah Denies 2026 World Cup Visa Investigation Funds

• Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, suspended Director-General of the NSA, is under investigation for alleged 2026 FIFA World Cup visa irregularities.
• His lawyer, Jerry Avernugbor, insists Mr. Ankrah has not received any money or participated in visa transactions.
• The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is aggressively probing the matter, with Mr. Ankrah and his lawyer cooperating.
• Mr. Avernugbor cautioned against premature conclusions, noting his client was introduced to a company by a US Embassy representative.
• The investigation aims to clarify the circumstances of alleged payments and will follow legal due process if wrongdoing is established.

His legal representative, Jerry Avernugbor, has firmly asserted that his client has not accepted any funds from individuals in connection with the purported 2026 World Cup visa investigation, nor has he engaged in any visa-related transactions.

Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, the suspended Director-General of Ghana's National Sports Authority (NSA), is currently embroiled in a significant controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in visa facilitation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The allegations have led to his suspension from the prominent public office. His legal representative, Jerry Avernugbor, has firmly asserted that his client has not accepted any funds from individuals in connection with the purported 2026 World Cup visa investigation, nor has he engaged in any visa-related transactions.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on October 10, 2026, Mr. Avernugbor emphasized that Mr. Ankrah maintains his innocence regarding the financial aspects of the allegations. He stressed that his client has not received "a penny" from any applicant. This statement comes amidst an aggressive probe by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) into what has been termed the Ghana National Sports Authority visa scandal, which centers on claims of improper visa arrangements linked to the upcoming international tournament.

The Criminal Investigations Department has launched an aggressive inquiry into the alleged visa irregularities, with the investigation having been active for the entire week leading up to Mr. Avernugbor's public comments. Both Yaw Ampofo Ankrah and his lawyer, Jerry Avernugbor, have been actively cooperating with authorities, attending multiple interviews at the CID headquarters as part of the ongoing process. This CID investigation into visa facilitation in Ghana aims to uncover the full facts surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup visa allegations.

Mr. Avernugbor confirmed that he has reviewed documents pertinent to the accusations during the investigative process. However, he cautioned against drawing premature conclusions based solely on publicly circulating information, suggesting that a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances could lead to different interpretations of the evidence. He further disclosed that Mr. Ankrah was introduced to a specific company by a representative from the US Embassy, who presented the entity as legitimate. Following a request from the embassy for a designated contact, Mr. Ankrah assigned an assistant to serve in that capacity.

The broader Ghana public official fraud investigation is specifically examining allegations of irregularities concerning visa applications tied to Ghana's participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While Mr. Avernugbor robustly defends his client's position, he acknowledged the possibility that the ongoing inquiry could ultimately establish wrongdoing. Should such a determination be made, he affirmed that the legal process would be allowed to proceed without impediment, commending the police for their diligent work in this regard.

A critical aspect of the investigation, according to Mr. Avernugbor, will be to clarify the precise circumstances involving individuals who are alleged to have made payments for visa applications. This clarification is deemed essential to fully understand the scope and nature of the purported visa scandal. The outcome of this thorough CID investigation into visa facilitation in Ghana will be crucial in determining accountability and setting precedents for public officials involved in international events.

Lawyers advising public officials or entities involved in international events should note the aggressive Criminal Investigations Department (CID) probe into alleged visa irregularities, highlighting the critical need for stringent due diligence on third-party service providers and robust defense strategies for clients facing financial misconduct allegations in Ghana.

Source: Original reporting via Emma Ankrah, October 2026