Omanghana
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has denied receiving money in exchange for visa opportunities connected to its tourism promotion activities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a statement issued on Friday, October 9, 2026, the authority rejected allegations surrounding the arrangements. Its Chief Executive Officer, Maame Efua Houadjeto, also denied soliciting, receiving or authorising payments to secure visas.
The response follows claims by the Minority in Parliament that some applicants were charged between US$7,000 and US$14,000 for visa facilitation. The caucus has demanded greater transparency over the involvement of public institutions in the process.
Explaining its role, the GTA said it identified participating groups, facilitated institutional introductions and sought procedural guidance from the United States Embassy and Canadian High Commission. It stressed that visa decisions rested solely with the relevant diplomatic and immigration authorities.
The authority said an initial plan to obtain private sponsorship proved financially impracticable. Participants were consequently told to cover their visa fees, travel and accommodation, and independently engaged travel agents.
Addressing questions about its media selections, the GTA said tourism promotion also involves bloggers, influencers, content creators, photographers and videographers. It argued that participants should be assessed according to their promotional responsibilities, rather than traditional journalism classifications alone.
According to the statement, the programme received board approval to promote Ghana’s tourism, music, fashion, crafts and creative industries internationally. Houadjeto maintained that her involvement formed part of her official duties.
The GTA called for scrutiny of the arrangements to be based on verified records and the responsibilities of each institution involved.
Source: Omanghana
