The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has denied collecting money from applicants in exchange for visas or visa opportunities linked to its tourism promotion activities during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Maame Efua Houadjeto, also denied asking for, receiving or approving payments to help people secure visas. She said the GTA’s role was limited to helping selected participants with their applications.
In a statement on Friday, October 9, the GTA responded to allegations made by the Minority caucus in Parliament. It said the initiative aimed to promote Ghana’s tourism, culture, music, fashion, crafts and creative industries to international audiences during the World Cup.
“The initiative was presented to and approved by the Board of the Authority. The program involved several categories of participants, including cultural troupes, musicians, exhibitors, media practitioners, tourism industry representatives, staff of the Authority and heads of related agencies.”
The GTA said it contacted the United States Embassy and the Canadian High Commission for guidance on visa requirements and application procedures.
However, it stressed that it could not issue visas, guarantee that applications would be approved or influence the decisions. Those powers rested with the relevant diplomatic and immigration authorities.
“The Authority’s role was limited to identifying relevant participating groups, facilitating appropriate institutional introductions and providing guidance on the application process. At no point did GTA possess the authority to issue visas, guarantee visa approvals or determine the outcomes of individual applications.”
The statement also defended the decision to include bloggers, social media influencers, digital content creators, photographers and videographers in the initiative.
The Authority argued that promoting tourism involves more than traditional journalism and established media organisations.
It said participants should be assessed based on the promotional work they were expected to do and their responsibilities.
Maame Efua Houadjeto also maintained that her involvement in the initiative was part of her official duties and was aimed at supporting the GTA’s tourism promotion work.
The Authority said it remained committed to public accountability. It urged the public to assess the allegations based on verified facts, official records and a clear understanding of the responsibilities of the parties involved.
