President John Dramani Mahama has removed Yaw Ampofo Ankrah from his position as Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA).
The development follows mounting pressure on Mr Ampofo Ankrah’s leadership in September, after the Minority in Parliament called for his suspension or dismissal over allegations of financial impropriety linked to World Cup travel and visa arrangements.
The Minority alleged that more than US$600,000 had been collected from individuals seeking assistance with visa applications and travel arrangements for the World Cup tournament in the United States. Some applicants were reportedly charged as much as US$8,000 under the alleged arrangement.
The allegations prompted calls for investigations into the activities of the NSA. Mr Ampofo Ankrah and other officials of the Authority were subsequently reported to have been questioned by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) as part of investigations into the matter.
His removal also comes amid concerns over the condition of major sporting facilities in the country, including the Accra Sports Stadium and the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, whose suitability to host major sporting events has come under scrutiny.
The latest development follows President Mahama’s dissolution of the NSA’s governing board on September 2, 2026, as part of changes to the leadership of the Authority.
Although Mr Ampofo Ankrah was a member of the dissolved board, he continued to oversee the NSA’s day-to-day operations following its dissolution.
Meanwhile, Associate Professor of Physical Education and Sports at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, has been appointed Acting Director-General of the NSA.
His appointment is expected to usher in a new phase of leadership at the Authority as it continues to grapple with concerns over sports administration, infrastructure and accountability.
