By Issah Olegor
A fresh wave of controversy has engulfed Ghana’s Ministry of Youth and Sports following allegations of a politically orchestrated visa fraud scheme involving the travel of over 500 supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the United Kingdom.
The supporters reportedly traveled under the guise of attending the ongoing Unity Cup tournament in London, which features teams from Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago.
The claims were made by Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee and the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, during a live interview on UTV on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
According to Ekow Assafuah, individuals within the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with NDC operatives, are facilitating visa acquisitions under false pretenses—charging excessive fees and exploiting unsuspecting supporters.
“Credible information I received indicates that these supporters were charged exorbitant sums far above the official visa rates. If required, I am ready to provide evidence,” Assafuah said.
He indicated that a standard UK six-month visa processed through the official VFS system costs about £125 (GHS2,000), but these agents were allegedly demanding much more, sparking accusations of corruption and racketeering disguised as sports tourism.
Political Links
The allegations deepen as Assafuah and his associates, including Michael Kwasi Aidoo, pointed fingers at Betty Krosbi Mensah, former Member of Parliament for Afram Plains North, labeling her as a key coordinator of the scheme.
While no official comment has been made by Betty Mensah, social media posts from political figures close to the opposition have amplified calls for transparency.
“We are monitoring this closely. The public deserves the truth,” Aidoo wrote on X (formerly Twitter), adding that more revelations would soon be made public.
According to Ekow Assafuah, the situation became so alarming that the British High Commission in Accra intervened, cautioning that future group visa applications tied to similar events would not be entertained, due to suspected abuse of the system.
Background
This scandal comes against a broader backdrop of ongoing debates about the government’s financial role in sponsoring fan travel to international sporting events.
Over the past decade, Ghana has routinely financed the travel of supporters—primarily to boost morale for the Black Stars, the national football team.
However, the practice has faced rising criticism for placing unnecessary strain on public finances.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted in Ivory Coast, saw the government reportedly spend over $3 million, including costs for fan travel, accommodation, and meals.
Amid the uproar, Sports Minister Kofi Adams recently announced that the government will no longer fund supporter travel to international tournaments. In an interview with Bola Ray on StarrChat, Adams stated:
“Government must not spend money flying fans to tournaments. Let private entities support this, not public funds.”
Policy Shift Amid Public Scrutiny
While distancing the ministry from the ongoing visa scandal, Kofi Adams’ remarks reflect an emerging shift toward austerity and accountability in the sports sector.
He emphasized the need for corporate partnerships to fill the funding gap and reiterated his support for the national team.
“If Ghana wins the 2026 World Cup, I will ensure the team tours the entire nation flying first-class. But that must be a reward, not at the taxpayer’s expense,” he affirmed.
Growing Demand for Transparency
The unfolding allegations have placed enormous pressure on the Ministry of Youth and Sports to address public concerns.
Civil society groups and sports analysts are demanding a full-scale investigation into the visa arrangements tied to the Unity Cup and whether public resources were directly or indirectly misused.
