Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has made explosive new allegations regarding the 2026 FIFA World Cup visa scandal.

He claimed that over 30 individuals were falsely presented to the United States Embassy as board members or affiliates of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on October 10, 2026, the MP called for the immediate suspension of GTA Chief Executive Officer, Maame Efua Sekyi-Aidoo Houadjeto, to allow for an unhindered investigation into what he described as a deliberate act of misrepresentation.

Alleged Misrepresentation of GTA Board List According to Assafuah, official records show that the statutory board of the Ghana Tourism Authority consists of roughly 11 members, including representatives from various key institutions.

However, documents allegedly submitted to the US Embassy for World Cup engagements listed more than 30 individuals under the board’s umbrella. "In this document, over 30 people were misrepresented to the US Embassy as board members or affiliates of the board of GTA," Assafuah asserted.

The lawmaker noted that while legitimate past and present board members included figures such as former chairperson Gertrude Emefa Donkor (now at the Ghana Gold Board), current chairperson Phyllis Engmann, Samuel Seth Passah (Ministry of Local Government), Yusif Issaka Jajah, and the GTA CEO herself, the extended list introduced unfamiliar names that raise serious red flags.

Assafuah cited an undisclosed WhatsApp conversation wherein an individual admitted to securing a US visa on the claim of being a GTA board member, despite having no legitimate connection to the authority.

The MP questioned the inclusion of multiple individuals bearing the surname "Pasa" specifically naming individuals rendered as Pasa Lenda Esidwa, Pasa Lisa Zola, and Pasa Antoinette Aram, demanding scrutiny over how they were introduced to diplomats as board affiliates.

Timeline Disputes with Ministry of Sports

Assafuah also challenged the official timeline provided by the Ministry of Sports regarding when formal engagements with the US Embassy began for the 2026 World Cup.

While the ministry previously indicated that talks commenced around March or April 2026, Assafuah presented an email dated February 3, 2026, authored by Rukmini Kukuaa Coffie, a Public Engagement Specialist in the US Embassy's Public Diplomacy Section.

The email, which copied top officials including the Chief Director of the Ministry of Sports, stated: "Dear colleagues, building on discussions from the October 22nd, 2025, FIFA World Cup 2026 stakeholder meeting, the US Embassy is pleased to invite you to the third FIFA World Cup stakeholder meeting."

Assafuah argued that the reference to an October 2025 meeting proves the ministry provided a misleading account of its interactions with the embassy.

In light of the findings, the Parliamentary Minority, which had previously demanded the removal of the Minister for Sports and the CEO of the National Sports Authority (NSA), has expanded its demands to include the GTA Chief Executive.

ID/VPO