World Cup visa scandal: US Embassy introduced Tribe Fest Culture to NSA, GTA - Sports Minister

Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams has disclosed that the American Embassy introduced Tribe Fest Culture to the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) ahead of activities linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

He said the introduction was made during a meeting at the US Embassy, adding that the circumstances surrounding the relationship had raised questions about whether officials of the two state institutions took advantage of it for any improper purpose.

Speaking in an interview on TV3's Hot Issues, Sunday, October 11, Kofi Adams clarified issues surrounding the controversy over visa support and Tribe Fest Culture's role in the matter.

"Tribe Fest Culture, I’m told was introduced to the National Sports Authority and the Ghana Tourism Authority by the American Embassy, that is what my investigations told me.

"The American Embassy introduced them to the NSA and the GTA at a meeting at the American Embassy.

"That is why I am even shocked. They (US Embassy) have every right to question if anybody at the NSA or GTA took advantage of that introduction and relationship to do something untoward," he stated.

Clarifying the role Tribe Fest Culture was set up to play, he said: "What I have come to know and what we were told they were going to do were activations. That is what I read."

When asked what activations means, he stated that those involved would be best placed to explain what the term meant in the context of the proposed events.

"They would be the best persons to come and explain what activation means," he noted.

According to him, the US Embassy had planned activities in Ghana in connection with the World Cup, which the United States Embassy will host under a concept described as “16 by 16”.

According to the Minister, information available to him indicated that the planned activities were described as “activations”.

The plan, he said, was to organise 16 events, one in each region, with major activities expected in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, Tamale in the Northern Region and Cape Coast in the Central Region.

These three locations were expected to host viewing points on selected match days, with NSA facilities to be used for the activities.

He noted that per information available to him, Tribe Fest Culture was to be in charge of the event or said "activations."

"From the understanding that I got, the American Embassy itself wanted to have some events in the country because they were hosting the World Cup anyway and that they indicated, they called it 16 by 16.

"They want to have 16 events, one in each region but the main will be in Kumasi in Ashanti Region, Tamale in Northern Region and Cape Coast in Central Region. These three, they will have viewing points on some of the day that they will have matches in these three Regions. And they used normally, the NSA facilities," Kofi Adams added.

Mr Adams said the information available to his side initially did not indicate that some of the activations would take place in the United States.

He said it was not until May 19 that they became aware of the planned US-based activities through a letter from the Director-General of the NSA.

According to him, the letter outlined activities to be held both in Ghana and the United States and requested support to facilitate visa processing for individuals described as "volunteers and event coordinators".

A list of 90 volunteers was attached to the letter, he said.

"Well, that is what we have come to know that some of the activations were supposed to take place in the United States and up till May 19 we didn’t know that they will have some activations in the United States.

"So, this letter now comes and the letter written by the Director-General of the NSA now introduce to us activities that will be dome in Ghana and in the United States for which reason they need support to be able to process visas for what they describe us volunteers and event coordinators.

"There was a list attached which was 90 volunteers."

The Minister’s comments come amid questions surrounding the proposed visa arrangements and the respective roles of the NSA, GTA and Tribe Fest Culture in the planned World Cup-related activities.