Emmanuel Osei Sarpong has been appointed Acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) following the suspension of Yaw Ampofo Ankrah by President John Dramani Mahama.

Mr Sarpong, who is the National Coordinator of the School and Grassroots Sports Secretariat at the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, will oversee the NSA while a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigation into allegations involving the authority continues.

A letter dated October 1, 2026, and signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr Calitus Mahama, directed Mr Ankrah to step aside with immediate effect.

The letter stated that the suspension was an administrative measure and did not constitute a finding of wrongdoing against Mr Ankrah.

“His Excellency the President has directed that Mr Yaw Ampofo Ankrah be suspended from his duties as Director-General of the NSA with immediate effect, pending the completion of the investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID),” the letter said.

It added that Mr Sarpong would act as Director-General during the period of the suspension.

The decision follows allegations surrounding an arrangement linked to travel and visa facilitation for prospective travellers seeking to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to the allegations, about US$623,000 was received from prospective travellers seeking assistance with visa and travel arrangements. The matter prompted a police investigation, with Mr Ankrah and other individuals connected to the allegations appearing before the CID.

Mr Ankrah appeared before investigators last week and denied wrongdoing. He had also previously denied knowledge of any arrangement involving the collection of money from prospective World Cup travellers.

The NSA has maintained that it did not authorise any visa facilitation service or establish an office to collect money from members of the public seeking to travel to the tournament.

In a statement issued in September, the Authority said its relationship with TRIBE FEST, a FIFA-licensed partner involved in fan-experience activities, World Cup viewing events and mobilisation, did not include authorisation to collect money for visa procurement.

The controversy followed a petition reportedly submitted to the CID on September 8, alleging that individuals connected to the NSA received money from prospective travellers on the understanding that their travel and visa arrangements would be facilitated.

The Minority in Parliament subsequently called for Mr Ankrah to be dismissed or suspended while investigations continued.

The Ranking Member on Parliament's Youth and Sports Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, said information available to the Minority indicated that some prospective travellers were charged as much as US$8,000 for assistance with World Cup travel arrangements.

The Minority also questioned who authorised the alleged arrangement, who received the money and what services were provided.

The NSA, however, rejected the suggestion that the alleged operation was an official arrangement of the Authority. It said no employee had been authorised to collect money or facilitate visas on behalf of the NSA.

The Authority further stated that its legal team was cooperating with the police investigation and that Mr Ankrah and other relevant officials would make themselves available to investigators if required.

Mr Ankrah's suspension therefore takes effect while the CID investigation remains ongoing. The suspension itself does not establish criminal liability or prove the allegations against him.

Mr Sarpong, who is an Associate Professor of Exercise and Sports Science in the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Sports at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), will now assume responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the NSA.

The NSA is responsible for the management and development of sports infrastructure and the coordination of sports activities across Ghana.

The latest development comes after President Mahama dissolved the governing board of the NSA on September 2 as part of a wider decision affecting several state institutions. The board was subsequently expected to be reconstituted.

The CID investigation is expected to establish whether money was collected from prospective travellers, who received the funds, what representations were made to those who paid, and whether any public officials or institutions were involved.