Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has accused Tribe Culture Fest Chief Executive Officer Nana Boateng Gyimah of failing to refund US$611,000 allegedly collected under an arrangement to facilitate travel for Ghanaians to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Adams, speaking in an interview on October 11, 2026, alleged that Gyimah was attempting to divert attention from the refund issue by advancing what he described as misleading narratives.

“The Tribe Culture Fest CEO is avoiding refunding the money he allegedly took illegally. He is therefore pushing all sorts of narratives to cloud the situation. He cannot run away with $611,000,” the Minister stated.

The allegations have triggered a dispute over payments linked to a World Cup travel and visa facilitation arrangement involving the National Sports Authority (NSA).

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, has become the centre of controversy over the handling of visa applications and the amounts reportedly charged to prospective travellers.

Visa facilitation deal under scrutiny

The dispute comes amid allegations by Parliament’s Minority, led by Old Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah, that approximately US$623,000 was collected from applicants who reportedly paid between US$7,000 and US$14,000 for visa-related arrangements.

The reported charges have raised questions about the difference between the amounts allegedly paid by applicants and the fees outlined in the official agreement between the NSA and Tribe Culture Fest.

According to the claims, the agreement provided for payments of US$3,000 for the United States and US$2,000 for Canada.

Adams has also outlined a timeline of events surrounding the visa applications. He claimed that the US Embassy first raised questions on March 18, 2026, about four individuals presented as NSA staff, before his Ministry’s formal arrangement was in place.

He further alleged that a list of 90 volunteers was attached to an NSA letter dated May 19, 2026, requesting visa support.

The Minister said approximately 1,023 applications were processed, with 441 visas issued.

Adams also accused Gyimah of providing false information to Assafuah to fuel allegations of visa fraud against him and divert attention from the disputed refund. However, the allegations remain contested.

Gyimah denies receiving the alleged amount

In a statement issued on Monday, October 12, 2026, Gyimah denied illegally receiving US$611,000 and challenged the Minister to produce evidence supporting the accusation.

The Tribe Culture Fest CEO maintained that his company’s agreement was exclusively with the National Sports Authority and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).

He also denied that he or his company had received the alleged amount from private individuals.

Gyimah demanded verifiable payment records identifying who made the payments, who received them, when the transactions occurred and how Adams arrived at the US$611,000 figure.

He warned that legal action could follow if the Minister failed to withdraw the allegation.

Dispute raises questions over accountability

The conflicting accounts have intensified calls for clarity over the financial arrangements, the amounts collected from applicants and the responsibilities of the institutions involved in the World Cup travel initiative.

At the centre of the dispute is whether the alleged US$611,000 was received by Gyimah or Tribe Culture Fest, as Adams claims, and what documentary evidence supports the figure.

While the Minister is demanding a refund, Gyimah insists that the accusation must be backed by verifiable records.

As the disagreement continues, payment documents, contractual records and other supporting evidence are likely to be crucial in establishing what happened and determining whether any party bears responsibility.

Neither side’s competing claims, as presented in the statements, independently establish that the alleged illegal collection or withholding of funds occurred.