Assafuah Questions 50-Member Media List for World Cup Visa Arrangements

Old Tafo Member of Parliament and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has raised fresh questions over the list of media personnel reportedly submitted as part of Ghana’s arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking on Asempa FM, Assafuah alleged that the United States and Canadian embassies had agreed to facilitate arrangements for about 50 media personnel, but claimed that his investigations found only two people on the list whom he identified as genuine media practitioners.

He named broadcaster Andy Dosty and Philip Narh as the two people he said were identified as genuine media personnel.

According to the Old Tafo MP, the findings raised questions about the identities and status of the remaining people who were included in the list.

Assafuah further alleged that some individuals connected to the arrangements were paid thousands of dollars, with figures ranging between US$9,000 and US$10,000.

He claimed that he had evidence relating to some of the alleged payments and activities of people who travelled under the arrangements.

The MP said the matter was particularly concerning because, in his view, Ghanaian public institutions should not be used to present people who are not employees of those institutions as though they were official staff or representatives.

He said such practices could damage Ghana’s reputation when Ghanaian officials engage foreign diplomatic missions.

Assafuah argued that the issue should not be reduced to the role of a private travel or event organisation, insisting that attention must be placed on how public institutions participated in the process.

He also questioned attempts to shift attention towards TRIBE, arguing that if people who were not staff of the **National Sports Authority (NSA)** or other public institutions were presented as such, responsibility should be investigated within the institutions that provided the information.

The MP’s comments form part of broader concerns he and the Minority in Parliament have raised about Ghana’s World Cup visa arrangements involving the NSA, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Ministry of Sports and Recreation and TRIBE Culture Fest.

The Minority has alleged that some individuals were presented to foreign missions under institutional identities that they did not actually hold. These allegations remain subject to investigation and responses from the institutions involved.

Assafuah also linked the matter to the removal of former NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, arguing that the decision should not end investigations into the broader arrangements.

He said the Minority would continue to pursue the matter to establish what happened and ensure that the Ghanaian public receives answers.