The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has publicly denied that it collected money from applicants in exchange for visa opportunities related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The statement was issued on Friday, October 9, 2026, after concerns were raised by the Minority in Parliament over alleged visa‑processing arrangements involving the GTA.
Parliamentary members alleged that some individuals were charged between $7,000 and $14,000 to facilitate visa processing. They argued that the payments raised serious questions about how visa‑related opportunities linked to Ghana’s activities around the global football tournament were managed, and they called for greater transparency from the Authority.
In its response, the GTA said it had no role in collecting fees from applicants. The Authority’s statement read: “The Ghana Tourism Authority unequivocally denies collecting money from any applicant in return for visas or visa opportunities.” It also added that its Chief Executive Officer, Maame Efua Houadjeto, was not involved in any sale of visas or the collection of money from applicants.
The GTA explained that its involvement in the initiative was limited to promoting Ghana’s tourism, culture, music, fashion, crafts and creative industries to international audiences during the tournament. The initiative was presented to and approved by its Board, with participants drawn from cultural troupes, musicians, exhibitors, media practitioners, tourism industry representatives, staff of the Authority and heads of related agencies.
It also clarified that it had engaged the United States Embassy and the Canadian High Commission to seek guidance on visa application requirements for the identified participants. The Authority stressed that it had no authority to issue visas, guarantee approvals or determine the outcomes of individual applications, and that those decisions rested exclusively with the respective diplomatic and immigration authorities.
Regarding finances, the GTA said it had initially explored private‑sector sponsorship to support participating groups, but the substantial financial requirements made the proposed arrangement impracticable. Consequently, participants were informed that they would be responsible for their own visa application fees, travel and accommodation expenses. Some groups independently engaged travel agents for transportation and accommodation arrangements, but the Authority maintained that payments made to independent travel service providers should not be confused with payments made to the GTA or its officials.
The statement also addressed the inclusion of digital content creators in the initiative, noting that contemporary tourism promotion extends beyond conventional journalists. Bloggers, social‑media influencers, digital content creators, photographers, videographers and other communications professionals play recognised roles in destination marketing and international tourism promotion.
In closing, the GTA reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and responsible administration, urging the public to consider the circumstances surrounding the programme based on verified facts, institutional records and the distinct responsibilities of the parties involved.
