The National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has accused the government of a lackadaisical posture in handling the 2026 World Cup visa and ticketing scandal, describing the official defence as untenable.
Addressing the press on Thursday, October 15, on what he termed “THE WORLD CUP SCANDAL: VISAS, TICKETS AND MISSING ANSWERS”, Mr. Aboagye said documents in his possession expose a massive extortion scheme involving innocent Ghanaian citizens who sought to travel to the World Cup.
According to him, applicants allegedly paid between $8,000 and $14,000 each against the official $3,000 contract rate, with one person allegedly paying a whopping $20,000 to individuals in the name of facilitating visas for them.
“Applicants allegedly paid between $8,000 and $14,000 each against the $3,000 US dollar contract rate with one person allegedly parting with a whopping $20,000 to these individuals in the name of facilitating their visas for them,” he stated.
He said documents place the total amount collected from innocent citizens at $600,000, a figure he says has been confirmed by the Minister for Sports and Recreation who mentioned $623,000.
“So far, the document places the total amount collected from innocent citizens at $600,000 US dollars. Indeed, this figure has been confirmed by the Minister for Sports and Recreation and he even mentions $623,000 US dollars,” Mr. Aboagye told journalists.
Some Travellers Have Not Returned
Mr. Aboagye further alleged that some of those who travelled under the arrangement, including persons very close to the leadership of the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ministry for Sports and Recreation, have not returned to Ghana since the end of the World Cup.
“Some of those who travelled under this arrangement reportedly, including persons very close to the National Sports Authority leadership and the Ministry for Sports and Recreation, have not returned to Ghana since the end of the World Cup. This is the record. It is detailed, it is dated and it’s verifiable,” he said.
He argued that it is against this record that the government’s responses must be judged.
“It is based on these records, these documents, these facts, that we believe the government’s lackadaisical posture and attitude towards this scandal is not good enough for the integrity and credibility of this country,” he stressed.
According to the NPP communications director, the Ministry attempted a defence but those defences do not hold.
“The Ministry attempted a defence, but these defences do not hold,” he added.
Mr. Aboagye is demanding full accountability, prosecution of persons involved, and answers on the whereabouts of those who have failed to return.
By Sampson Kumah Ifeetwube Elvis
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