Wonder Sitsofe Mandel, a spokesperson for the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has rejected corruption allegations surrounding Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup visa arrangements, insisting that the Minority’s 49-page statement produced no incriminating evidence linking either the minister or the ministry to illegal visa facilitation, financial misconduct or dealings with private travel operators.
According to Wonder Sitsofe Mandel, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation had no direct contract, commercial agreement or operational engagement with private travel and tour companies, including TRIBE Culture Fest, and maintained that the minister neither facilitated visas illegally nor received any financial benefit from the process.
Responding to the Minority’s allegations, Mr Mandel told the Daily Graphic that Ghana’s World Cup travel arrangements had instead been structured around a multi-agency system designed to strengthen oversight, reduce visa fraud and protect supporters from unscrupulous operators.
He said a presidential directive led to the establishment of an inter-agency Oversight Committee comprised of representatives of the Ministries of Sports, Finance, Tourism and Foreign Affairs, which worked directly with the United States Embassy to create secure channels for World Cup visa applications.
“Under a Presidential directive, an inter-agency Oversight Committee, comprising representatives from the Ministries of Sports, Finance, Tourism and Foreign Affairs, worked directly with the US Embassy to establish secure visa application channels,” Mr Mandel said.
He added that Mr Adams had also spearheaded a public anti-fraud campaign ahead of the tournament, repeatedly warning Ghanaians against paying unverified third parties for visa assistance.
“The minister actively led a public anti-fraud campaign using speeches, official ministry press releases and social media posts to warn citizens against paying third-party agencies for visas,” he said.
Ministry disputes claims
Mr Mandel also challenged what he described as factual inaccuracies in the Minority’s account of a request submitted by the National Sports Authority.
According to him, official records showed that the NSA letter reached the ministry on May 10, rather than March 19 as alleged by the Minority.
He said the correspondence sought administrative support for 90 volunteers and event operators associated with TRIBE Culture Fest, and not four NSA employees as had been suggested.
Crucially, he said, the minister did not approve, recommend or guarantee visas for the individuals named in the request.
Instead, Mr Adams minuted the document to the ministry’s Chief Director for onward transmission to the US Embassy’s Technical Working Group for due diligence and review.
Mr Mandel argued that forwarding a request for scrutiny by the appropriate technical body should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the applicants.
“To maintain strict administrative boundaries, genuine NSA and Ministry staff were processed through an entirely separate diplomatic channel,” he explained
