The Chief Executive Officer of TRIBE Culture Fest, Nana Boateng Gyimah, has called for accountability and fairness in investigations into alleged financial misconduct linked to visa facilitation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Gyimah’s response follows allegations by the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, that he illegally received US$611,000 from private individuals seeking visas for the tournament and failed to refund the money.
The wider controversy involves allegations that private individuals were presented to embassies as public officials in attempts to facilitate travel to the tournament.
Responding to these allegations, Gyimah said TRIBE Culture Fest had initially chosen to cooperate with the relevant state institutions investigating the matter.
However, he expressed concern over what he described as attempts to associate the organisation and its chief executive with financial misconduct before the relevant transactions, parties, agreements and responsibilities had been established.
He also criticised a television statement by the Sports Minister, which he said alleged that TRIBE Culture Fest had fraudulently taken funds.
“This statement is in the least very reckless, prejudicial and without any basis in any way whatsoever and howsoever,” Gyimah said.
He maintained that TRIBE Culture Fest had no personal financial arrangements with individual visa applicants and insisted that allegations against the organisation should be assessed on the basis of verifiable evidence.
Gyimah said the organisation considered it necessary to clarify its position and respond to the allegations while calling for a process that is fair, comprehensive and consistent.
The investigations into the World Cup visa controversy remain central to efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged payments and the roles of the individuals and institutions involved.
