Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has been removed from his position as Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA).
The decision, announced on Thursday, 1 October 2026, brings an end to Ampofo Ankrah’s tenure amid ongoing scrutiny over the management of Ghana’s sporting facilities and a police investigation into an alleged visa facilitation scheme linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, an Associate Professor of Physical Education and Sports at the University of Education, Winneba, has been appointed Acting Director-General of the NSA with immediate effect.
Ampofo Ankrah’s removal follows weeks of pressure from the Minority in Parliament, which called for his suspension or dismissal while investigations continued. The Minority alleged that more than US$600,000 was collected from individuals seeking assistance with visa and travel arrangements for the World Cup, with some applicants reportedly charged as much as US$8,000. Promotional materials for the arrangement were said to have been displayed at NSA offices and stadium facilities.
The allegations led to a Criminal Investigations Department (CID) probe, during which Ampofo Ankrah and some NSA officials were questioned. The National Sports Authority has denied authorising any visa facilitation service or collecting money from the public, stating that its legal team is cooperating fully with the police investigation.
The latest development comes less than a month after President Mahama dissolved the NSA’s 15-member governing board on 2 September 2026 as part of broader governance reforms. Ampofo Ankrah, who served on the dissolved board by virtue of his position, had continued to oversee the Authority’s day-to-day operations pending the reconstitution of a new board.
His tenure had also attracted criticism over the state of major sporting venues, including the Accra Sports Stadium and Baba Yara Stadium.
Professor Sarpong now takes charge of the NSA on an acting basis as the police investigation continues and the government works towards reconstituting the Authority’s governing board.
Story by ; Emmanuel Nettey
