On Saturday, October 10, lawyer Jerry Avernugbor told JoyNews’ Newsfile that his client, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has not received any money from applicants in connection with the alleged visa facilitation scheme linked to Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup bid.
Mr Ankrah was suspended from his post as Director‑General of the National Sports Authority amid controversy over a supposed arrangement that would have enabled visa processing for players and officials. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is reportedly probing the matter aggressively, with investigations underway for the past week.
Avernugbor said he and Mr Ankrah have been attending interviews at the CID headquarters and that they have seen documents related to the allegations. He cautioned that the evidence could lead to conclusions different from those circulating publicly.
He added that Mr Ankrah had been introduced to a company through a representative at the US Embassy, which the lawyer described as a legitimate entity, and that the client had appointed an assistant as the point of contact after the embassy’s request.
While acknowledging the possibility that the investigation could uncover wrongdoing, the lawyer stressed that any conclusions should be based on evidence and that if Mr Ankrah is found guilty, the law would take its course.
The CID is continuing to investigate irregularities involving visa applications tied to Ghana’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
