Kojo Preko Dankwa calls for investigation into GTA’s World Cup visa affairs

President of the Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP), Kojo Preko Dankwa, has called for a thorough investigation into the affairs of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in connection with arrangements made for Ghanaians who travelled to watch the Black Stars during the World Cup.

In an interview with kpdonline, Dankwa is demanding that an investigation or committee be established to assess how the GTA managed its allocation and arrangements for supporters expected to attend Ghana’s matches.

“I am asking for that investigation or a committee to look into how they dealt with the World Cup in terms of getting people to go watch the Black Stars during the World Cup,” he said.

His call follows what he described as videos and reports concerning alleged visa-related scandals involving some individuals who sought to travel to watch the tournament.

“I have watched some videos talking about some scandals that really happened during the getting of visas and getting visas to go watch the matches,” Kojo Preko Dankwa stated.

He also raised questions about Bright Asempa, whom he identified as a former Corporate Affairs Manager of the Ghana Tourism Authority, saying the official’s name had allegedly surfaced in discussions surrounding the visa controversies.

“I have heard a name who I hear is the Corporate Affairs Manager of the Ghana Tourism Authority, and now he is not there. The CEO has sacked him without telling the general public why he was sacked or removed. That we need to know,” he said.

“His name is Bright Asempa, and his name has appeared in scandals that are happening within the visa connections and visa racketeering when it comes to the World Cup.”

However, the allegations raised by Kojo Preko Dankwa have not, on the information available here, been independently established as fact.

He argued that the Ghana Tourism Authority must clarify its position if its name continues to feature in allegations surrounding the World Cup visa arrangements.

“I have heard his name mentioned and I have also heard about GTA name dragged into the mud with other stories that are connected to the same World Cup,” he said.

Kojo Preko Dankwa further questioned what happened to spaces allegedly allocated to the GTA to facilitate the attendance of Ghanaians at Black Stars matches.

“Because we were told that they had a certain number of slots that they needed to use to take people to go watch the Black Stars during the World Cup, specifically the Black Stars matches.”

He subsequently asked whether those spaces were sold or otherwise accounted for.

“Because if they had a number of slots that they were supposed to deal with, did they sell it? And if they did not sell it, why is their former or current Corporate Affairs Manager Bright Asempa’s name flying in and out of these scandals coming from National Sports Council?”

He also referred to videos which he said had raised questions about possible GTA involvement in the alleged Black Stars visa controversy.

“And videos also talking about GTA involvement in the Black Stars visa scandals,” he added.

Kojo Preko Dankwa is therefore calling for a comprehensive investigation to establish what happened and determine whether any individual or institution breached the law or applicable procedures.

“We want a thorough investigation done into the same World Cup Black Stars visa issues where GTA had a certain number of slots to take Ghanaians to go watch the Black Stars’ matches at the World Cup.”

The FOCAP president also referenced previous visa-related controversies involving a former Deputy Sports Minister, saying Ghanaians should not have to deal with similar allegations again.

“Because what was done to a certain previous government where we saw, or we heard, the former Deputy Sports Minister also in connection with this Australia Visa racketeering,” he said.

“We do not want to hear any other stories again when it comes to some of these things.”

According to him, an investigation would also help establish whether the Ghana Tourism Authority had any involvement in the alleged visa-related activities and protect the credibility of the institution.

“And if Ghana Tourism Authority’s name is being dragged into it because of their former Corporate Affairs Director Bright Asempa’s name being involved, then we need to get the credibility of GTA up for us to know whether they were involved in all these things that are happening,” Kojo Preko Dankwa said.

He further questioned the circumstances surrounding Bright Asempa’s reported departure from the Authority.

“What actually even made GTA CEO Mame sack or remove Bright Asempa, we need to know,” he said.

“Because I am told he is not there. And if he is not there, what made him go or get sacked?”

Kojo Preko Dankwa also recalled an earlier disagreement over Bright Asempa’s communication role at the Authority.

“Once upon a time, this same Bright Asempa issued statements here and there telling everybody that he is the one who is supposed to tell us who speaks for Ghana Tourism Authority,” he said.

“That issue, we raised it. CEO Mame told us she was going to come back to it. It never happened.”

He said the renewed mention of Bright Asempa’s name in the World Cup-related allegations makes the need for clarification even more pressing.

“Today, we are hearing his name again, Bright Asempa again, in all these scandals that are coming in,” he stated.

“We want to know why he was sacked. We want a thorough investigation done on this same World Cup Black Star visa issue where GTA had a certain number of slots to take Ghanaians to go watch the Black Star match at the World Cup.”

Kojo Preko Dankwa maintained that the matter should be investigated rather than allowed to generate further speculation.

“That we need to know. Because we cannot sit and see corruption. We cannot sit and see other things that are done to make the whole GTA look bad in the eyes of the people.”

“We need to investigate. We need to understand what is really happening,” he concluded.