Ghana’s Parliamentary Minority has raised fresh concerns over alleged irregularities in arrangements made to facilitate visas for people seeking to travel to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Minority alleges that the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the National Sports Authority (NSA) created or used non-existent job positions and institutional titles to present some visa applicants as officials of public institutions.

The allegations were made by Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee, during an interview on JoyNews on October 7, 2026.

According to Mr Assafuah, some applicants allegedly paid between US$8,000 and US$9,000 and were subsequently presented to foreign diplomatic missions as employees or officials of institutions including the NSA and Ghana Tourism Authority.

President Simeon-Okraku joins Sports Minister as Vice-President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang pays working visit to Sports Ministry – Ghana Football Association

Questions over alleged staff positions

Mr Assafuah cited documents which, according to him, raise questions about the authenticity of positions assigned to some applicants.

One example involved an individual allegedly presented as a board secretary of the National Sports Authority. The MP argued that available institutional records did not support the claim that the person held that position at the time.

Another case cited by the Minority involved an applicant allegedly presented to the US Embassy as a procurement officer of the NSA, despite the person’s name reportedly not appearing among the Authority’s procurement officers at the relevant time.

The Minority described the alleged positions as fraudulent and called for a broader examination of how the applicants were presented to foreign missions.

Sports Minister urges strong governance as NSA board begins strategic retreat

Visa controversy widens

The latest allegations form part of a wider controversy surrounding Ghana’s preparations and visa arrangements for the 2026 World Cup.

The controversy has already resulted in the suspension of NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, while security agencies investigate allegations concerning visa facilitation arrangements and payments from prospective travellers. Reports indicate that the amount involved in the broader controversy has been put at approximately US$623,000.

Mr Assafuah has argued that removing one official should not bring the matter to an end, insisting that other individuals and institutions whose roles may emerge from the investigation should also be examined.

The Minority has subsequently called for the removal and possible prosecution of Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Iddie Adams and other officials if investigations establish wrongdoing. These remain political allegations and calls for accountability, not established findings of criminal guilt.

Demand for accountability

The development is likely to increase pressure on the Sports Ministry and the NSA to explain the procedures used to identify and accredit people seeking to travel under the banner of Ghanaian sporting institutions.

The Ministry’s official structure confirms that the NSA operates as one of the agencies under the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, while the Ministry lists transparency and good governance among its stated priorities.

For genuine applicants, the allegations also raise concerns about the potential impact of questionable visa documentation on Ghana’s credibility with foreign diplomatic missions.

Investigations are expected to determine whether the alleged portfolios were deliberately created, who authorised the representations made to foreign missions, whether money changed hands improperly, and whether any public officials breached administrative or criminal laws.

Until those investigations are completed, the allegations against the Ministry, the NSA and named individuals should be treated as claims requiring verification and due process.

American tennis star Coco Gauff says a wave of racist abuse on social media made an already difficult few days emotionally exhausting, following a controversial incident at the China Open in Beijing.

The 22-year-old world No. 4 was eliminated from the tournament on Wednesday after losing 6-3, 6-3 to Belgium’s Elise Mertens. It was Gauff’s first defeat to Mertens after winning their previous five meetings.

The online abuse began after Gauff’s third-round victory over Chinese teenager Sun Xinran. During a crucial point late in the opening set, Gauff stopped play after noticing flickering lights from advertising panels around the court. Following a review, the umpire ordered the point to be replayed, and Gauff eventually won it before taking the match 7-5, 6-1.

The decision triggered criticism online, with Gauff subsequently reporting what she described as an “insane” volume of racist comments and direct messages.

Gauff defended her actions, saying people could disagree with her without resorting to racism. She also rejected accusations that she had deliberately acted improperly during the match.

Speaking after her defeat to Mertens, Gauff acknowledged that the abuse had affected her.

“It has been kind of draining, I’m not going to lie,” she said, explaining that she had switched off her phone and tried to move on.

Her performance against Mertens appeared unusually flat. Gauff committed eight double faults and 34 unforced errors during the straight-sets defeat. At one point, she told her team that she had no energy and felt as though she might pass out.

The Women’s Tennis Association condemned the racist attacks and said it was in contact with Gauff to offer its support. The incident has also renewed concerns about the level of online abuse faced by professional tennis players.

Despite the difficult episode, Gauff has chosen to step away from the online commentary rather than allow the abuse to dominate her season. Her China Open campaign ends with disappointment, but the broader controversy has again highlighted the damaging consequences of racism and harassment on social media.

By KPD News Online | October 7, 2026

The debate over how Manchester City should be punished following the club’s landmark financial-rule verdict is intensifying, with several Premier League clubs reportedly calling for a combination of retrospective penalties and restrictions on City’s future operations.

An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations covering the period from 2009-10 to 2017-18. City has appealed the verdict and continues to maintain its innocence.

Rivals seek more than relegation

According to reports, some Premier League executives believe that simply imposing a points deduction that sends City into the Championship would not adequately reflect the scale and duration of the alleged wrongdoing.

The preferred approach among some clubs is understood to involve both retrospective measures addressing the historical breaches and future sanctions designed to restrict the club’s competitive advantage.

One proposed measure is the removal of titles won during the period covered by the findings. However, there is reportedly no unanimous position among clubs over whether those honours should subsequently be awarded to other teams or simply left vacant.

Other potential sanctions discussed around the case include substantial fines, points deductions, transfer restrictions and, in the most severe scenario, expulsion from the Premier League. The league’s disciplinary framework gives a commission considerable latitude when determining penalties.

City preparing to challenge the verdict

Manchester City has rejected the findings and appealed against the commission’s decision. The club’s leadership has continued to insist that it has strong grounds to challenge the conclusions.

That appeal means the final consequences of the verdict are not yet settled. The case could therefore remain a major issue in English football for some time as the legal and disciplinary processes continue.

A wider question for English football

The dispute has moved beyond the question of punishment for one club. It has also raised questions about competitive fairness, financial regulation and the credibility of the Premier League’s enforcement system.

City’s supporters face the prospect of uncertainty over the club’s honours and sporting future, while rival clubs are watching closely to see whether the eventual punishment is considered proportionate to the commission’s findings.

For the Premier League, the eventual decision could establish an important precedent for how serious financial breaches are handled in the future.

LONDON — Harry Kane produced a memorable performance at Wembley as England defeated Czechia 3–0 in the UEFA Nations League, combining a landmark appearance with another decisive contribution in front of the home crowd.

“Harry Kane celebrates after scoring for England against Czechia at Wembley”

The England captain earned his 125th senior international cap, drawing level with Peter Shilton for the most appearances by an England men’s player. Kane then underlined his importance to the team by scoring twice as England comfortably controlled the contest.

England took the lead in the 27th minute when Kane’s low cross caused problems in the Czech defence and Vladimir Coufal inadvertently turned the ball into his own net. Kane doubled the advantage 13 minutes later, finishing a flowing England move involving Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers.

“Harry Kane marks his record-equalling 125th England appearance”

The striker added his second goal in the 57th minute, completing a night in which he was involved in all three England goals. The victory also lifted his international tally to 91 goals, further extending his status as England’s all-time leading scorer.

The result was England’s third win in four Nations League matches. Thomas Tuchel’s side have responded strongly after their opening defeat by Spain, following it with victories over Czechia, a remarkable 7–0 win against Croatia and Tuesday’s Wembley success. England have scored 12 goals without reply across those three victories.

“Harry Kane acknowledges England supporters at Wembley Stadium”

For Kane, however, the occasion carried significance beyond the scoreline. Reaching 125 appearances placed him alongside Shilton at the top of England’s men’s appearance list, while his brace continued an extraordinary scoring run in 2026. England Football records that Kane has scored 13 international goals this calendar year.

With England now firmly positioned to advance from their Nations League group, attention will turn to the November fixtures. The team’s recent attacking form and Kane’s continued influence provide further encouragement as Tuchel develops his squad ahead of the next major international challeng

Substitute Mikel Merino scored twice after coming off the bench as Spain recovered from a first-half deficit to defeat Croatia 2-1 in Split and secure their place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals.

Spain entered the match looking to maintain their perfect start in the group, but Croatia made the stronger opening. Ivan Perišić put the hosts ahead in the 17th minute, heading home after Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón had denied Igor Matanović.

The visitors struggled to find their rhythm before the interval, with Croatia defending aggressively and creating problems on the counter. Spain’s response came after the break when manager Luis de la Fuente introduced Mikel Merino.

The change proved decisive.

Merino equalised in the 61st minute after Dani Olmo recovered possession and supplied the midfielder, who calmly finished to bring Spain level.

Spain then increased the pressure as Croatia attempted to protect their lead in the closing stages. Croatia’s task became even harder in the 79th minute when Perišić was shown a second yellow card and sent off.

With Croatia down to 10 men, Spain continued searching for the winner. Their persistence finally paid off in the 88th minute when Merino connected with a pass from Martín Zubimendi and produced a composed finish to complete his brace.

The victory leaves Spain top of their Nations League group with 12 points and confirms their qualification for the quarter-finals. The result also extends Spain’s unbeaten run to 42 matches, according to Reuters.

For Croatia, the defeat was particularly frustrating after a much-improved performance following their heavy 7-0 loss to England in their previous Nations League outing. Despite taking the lead and competing strongly for much of the game, Perišić’s dismissal ultimately changed the contest.

Merino’s impact from the bench, meanwhile, provided Spain with another example of their attacking depth and ability to change games late.