Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, says government has launched diplomatic efforts through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other state institutions to contest Canada’s decision to deny entry to Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Partey, 32, had been expected to feature in Ghana’s opening Group match against Panama on June 17 in Toronto, but is now set to miss the fixture after Canadian authorities refused to grant him a visa.
The decision has been confirmed by FIFA, which indicated that the midfielder will be unable to travel from Ghana’s base in the United States to Canada for the game. World football’s governing body noted that immigration decisions remain the sole responsibility of host nations and fall outside its jurisdiction.
Speaking in an interview with Citi FM, Mr Adams said government had already begun formal diplomatic engagement aimed at securing a reversal of the ruling.
He cited assurances from President John Dramani Mahama and Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, stressing that Ghana would actively defend the interests of its citizens abroad.
“As has been indicated by His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, and the mandate through his Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, that any Ghanaian touched anywhere, we will not keep quiet over it. Through the appropriate channels, we have communicated to the rightful authorities and are requesting them to review the decision. I hope and pray that they do what they must do, and do it right,” he said.
Mr Adams described the visa refusal as inconsistent with international conventions to which both countries are signatories, expressing hope that Canadian authorities would reconsider.
He also questioned the justification for the decision, arguing that Partey has been charged in a legal case but not convicted.
“We got a decision that he had been denied entry to Canada on very flimsy reasons. I say flimsy because the person had already been charged. He has not been found guilty,” Adams said.
He further raised concerns about the reasoning behind the ruling, noting that Partey continues to live and work in the jurisdiction where the alleged offences are being handled, despite ongoing legal proceedings.
“One is therefore surprised that Canada, which is so far away, will now apply rules to the extent that where somebody has just been merely charged, that person has been deemed guilty,” he added.
If the situation remains unchanged, Partey will miss Ghana’s World Cup opener against Panama but is expected to be available for subsequent Group matches against England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27.
