The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has opened investigations into suspected corruption involving contracts awarded by the National Sports Authority (NSA) and alleged financial irregularities surrounding Ghana's participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In a statement, the OSP said it had received petitions alleging abuse of public office, irregularities in the selection of sponsorship beneficiaries, visa facilitation arrangements and the collection and management of money from prospective travellers.

The investigation will also examine allegations that some competition winners were excluded from final beneficiary lists submitted to foreign diplomatic missions.

The probe follows allegations first reported by JoySports that more than $623,000 was collected from prospective travellers seeking visa assistance for the tournament.

The investigation implicated suspended NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, former NSA Chief Operations Officer Yaw Gyamfi Kusi Awere and TRIBE Culture Fest CEO Nana Boateng Gyimah.

Mr Awere alleged that Mr Ankrah received $56,000 in commission, while Mr Gyimah received $511,000 from the arrangements. Mr Ankrah has denied wrongdoing.

President John Dramani Mahama suspended Mr Ankrah on October 1, 2026, pending a CID investigation into the allegations. The President has also established a committee chaired by Professor Francis Dodoo to investigate the matter.

The Minority in Parliament has called for a broader independent investigation, raising concerns about the roles of the NSA, Ghana Tourism Authority, Ministry of Sports and Recreation and TRIBE Culture Fest.

It has also questioned discrepancies in beneficiary lists submitted to foreign diplomatic missions, with Ranking Member of Parliament's Youth and Sports Committee Vincent Ekow Assafuah alleging that only 15 of 102 people presented as NSA personnel could be verified as employees of the Authority.

The OSP said it would provide further information in accordance with its disclosure policy.

It stressed that the commencement of investigations does not establish wrongdoing and that all individuals and institutions involved are presumed innocent until proven guilty.