President John Dramani Mahama has removed Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as Director-General of Ghana’s National Sports Authority (NSA), bringing his 18-month tenure at the sports agency to an end amid scrutiny of its operations and an ongoing investigation linked to an alleged 2026 FIFA World Cup visa facilitation scheme.
The development was reported by several Ghanaian media organisations on Thursday, October 1, 2026, with Citi Newsroom reporting that Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong has been appointed Acting Director-General to take over the administration of the Authority.
Ampofo Ankrah’s exit comes less than a month after Mahama dissolved the governing board of the NSA on September 2. At the time, however, the dissolution of the board did not terminate Ankrah’s separate appointment as Director-General, leaving him in charge of the Authority’s day-to-day administration.
His position subsequently came under increased scrutiny following allegations surrounding a visa facilitation arrangement connected with the 2026 World Cup. Ghana’s parliamentary Minority had called for his suspension or dismissal, citing claims that more than $600,000 was collected from people seeking assistance with travel and visa arrangements.
The National Sports Authority rejected the allegations, saying it had not authorised any visa facilitation service or the collection of money from members of the public in connection with the tournament. The Authority also said its legal team was cooperating with the police investigation into the matter.
Reports of Ankrah’s removal therefore come against the backdrop of both administrative concerns at the NSA and the unresolved investigation. However, there is no official indication that the alleged visa controversy was the stated reason for President Mahama’s decision, and the allegations remain subject to investigation.
Succeeding Ankrah in an acting capacity is Prof. Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, an academic in physical education and sports at the University of Education, Winneba. His appointment places the NSA under new leadership as Ghana continues to grapple with concerns over the management and condition of major sporting facilities across the country.
