Bail pending appeal and public accountability petitions

The High Court in Accra will on November 4, 2026, rule on an application by the convicted former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi, for bail pending appeal against his 20-year jail term in the Samreboi illegal mining case.

The court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvi-Tey, fixed the date after hearing arguments from counsel for Antwi-Boasiako, Samuel Atta Akyea, and the Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, who opposed the application.

Mr Atta Akyea argued that the appeal had substantial prospects of success and that his client needed to be released to assist in preparing and prosecuting it.

However, Dr Srem-Sai submitted that no exceptional circumstances had been established to warrant bail, adding that the applicant posed a flight risk because he was facing two other criminal trials.

Moving the application in court on Thursday (October 15), Mr Atta Akyea said the 19 grounds of appeal raised substantial legal issues, including the interpretation of the Minerals and Mining Act and the treatment of accomplice evidence.

He argued that the trial judge had failed to consider the relevant provisions of the Act as a whole and that the grounds of appeal had significant prospects of success.

Counsel also said granting bail would enable his client to assist in preparing the appeal and another criminal case he was facing.

He rejected the prosecution’s claim that Antwi-Boasiako was a flight risk, saying his passport remained with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

He further argued that his client had complied with his bail conditions during the trial and would remain in Ghana to pursue the appeal.

Dr Srem-Sai said bail pending appeal should not be granted lightly, arguing that the applicant had failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances to justify his release.

Citing Fynn v The Republic, he said the circumstances under which bail had been granted in that case were different from those of Antwi-Boasiako, who had been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment.

He said the earlier case involved relatively short prison terms and concerns about delays in preparing appeal records, circumstances he argued did not apply to the present case.

The Deputy Attorney-General also said the applicant was facing two other criminal trials, which could result in additional prison terms, and argued that this increased the risk of him absconding.

The court subsequently fixed November 4, 2026, to deliver its ruling.

Search Watch live Home News Politics Business Sports Entertainment Opinion Videos More Full Text: Ekow Assafuah petitions CHRAJ to probe alleged visa irregularities for 2026 World Cup I ask it to investigate the relevant records, require explanations from the appropriate public institutions and determine whether corruption, abuse of power, administrative injustice or other misconduct within its mandate has occurred.

Copy link Add 3News as your preferred source on Google Preferred source Article tools Ask AI Listen to this article AI narration Playback position 0:00 20:09 10 10 Playback speed 1× FORMAL PETITION FOR AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO SUSPECTED CORRUPTION, ABUSE OF PUBLIC POWER, POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND ADMINISTRATIVE IRREGULARITIES IN THE ALLOCATION AND MANAGEMENT OF 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP VISA OPPORTUNITIES INVOLVING THE NATIONAL SPORTS AUTHORITY, GHANA TOURISM AUTHORITY AND MINISTRY OF SPORTS AND RECREATION.

I submit this petition pursuant to articles 218(a) and 218(e) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, read together with section 7(1)(a), (e) and (f) of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice Act, 1993 (Act 456), which provide the constitutional and statutory framework for the Commission’s functions in relation to complaints concerning injustice, corruption, abuse of power, unfair treatment by public officers and other matters falling within its prescribed mandate.

I respectfully invoke the Commission’s jurisdiction to investigate whether the conduct of the relevant public institutions and their officers in connection with the 2026 FIFA World Cup visa facilitation arrangements involved corruption, abuse of public power, conflicts of interest, administrative irregularities or other conduct contrary to the applicable constitutional, statutory and administrative standards.

Accordingly, I request the Commission to independently examine the relevant institutional decisions, beneficiary-selection procedures, official representations, financial transactions and accountability mechanisms; determine whether any public officer failed to discharge a legal or administrative duty; and make such findings, recommendations, referrals or other determinations as are authorized by the Constitution and applicable law.

I consider the circumstances surrounding these arrangements sufficiently serious to warrant the attention of your Office.

The circumstances outlined in this petition raise important questions about the exercise of public authority, the transparency of beneficiary selection, the accuracy of institutional representations, the handling of payments and the adequacy of the accountability mechanisms maintained by the institutions involved.

I consider these matters deserving of the Commission’s independent attention because public institutions must be able to demonstrate that their decisions are made for proper purposes, that the exercise of discretion is fair and transparent, and that public officers discharge their responsibilities in accordance with the Constitution and applicable law.

My concerns relate principally to the conduct of the National Sports Authority (NSA), the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, together with the involvement of TRIBE Culture Fest, the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) and other individuals or entities whose participation may be established through investigation.

I respectfully invoke the Commission’s constitutional and statutory mandate, including the relevant provisions of articles 218(a) and 218(e) of the 1992 Constitution and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice Act, 1993 (Act 456), to request an impartial examination of the matters set out below.

I do not ask the Commission to treat allegations as established findings.

I ask it to investigate the relevant records, require explanations from the appropriate public institutions and determine whether corruption, abuse of power, administrative injustice or other misconduct within its mandate has occurred.

1. THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND THE DUTY OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOUNTABILITY

The 2026 FIFA World Cup presented Ghana with an opportunity to promote tourism, support sporting development and strengthen the country’s international profile.

The involvement of public institutions in arrangements connected with such an event should therefore have been accompanied by clear procedures, transparent selection criteria, proper verification of beneficiaries and adequate financial controls.

Where opportunities are allocated through public institutions, the criteria governing selection should be identifiable and defensible.

Where officials certify individuals as employees, volunteers or authorised personnel, the information supplied should be supported by appropriate records.

Where applicants are charged money, the purpose of the charges and the handling of the funds should be capable of verification.

I am concerned that the reported discrepancies surrounding beneficiary lists, the questions raised about the status of persons presented as institutional personnel, the reported collection of payments and the requests for explanations concerning sponsorship proceeds raise legitimate questions about the quality of administrative oversight exercised in this process.

These questions should not be resolved through general assurances or informal explanations alone. They require an examination of the records, the procedures adopted and the conduct of the public officers responsible for the relevant decisions.

I respectfully request that the Commission undertake this examination in the interests of administrative justice, institutional integrity and public confidence.

2. THE NSA–TRIBE ARRANGEMENT AND THE VERIFICATION OF BENEFICIARIES

Documents available to me indicate that the NSA and TRIBE Culture Fest entered into a Memorandum of Understanding dated 2 June 2025, followed by supplementary arrangements dated 19 January 2026.

The supplementary arrangements reportedly specified charges of US$3,000 per person for United States visa facilitation and US$2,000 per person for Canadian visa facilitation.

Subsequent correspondence reportedly included a list of 22 proposed personnel transmitted on 28 January 2026 and a letter dated 18 March 2026 in which the NSA certified four individuals as bona fide NSA staff.

I understand that the United States Embassy’s Fraud Prevention Unit subsequently requested employment letters in connection with its verification process.

Further correspondence dated 28 May 2026 reportedly referred to persons described as NSA volunteers or event coordinators.

A list dated 8 June 2026 reportedly contained 102 names, of whom only 15 could be verified as NSA personnel through the records examined. I consider these discrepancies important from an administrative accountability perspective.

The Commission should establish the criteria used to select and classify the beneficiaries, the records relied upon to verify their status, the officials responsible for approving the relevant lists and the procedures followed before information was transmitted to the diplomatic missions.

Search Watch live Home News Politics Business Sports Entertainment Opinion Videos More Politics Assafuah petitions OSP to investigate alleged 2026 World Cup visa irregularities Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate alleged corruption and financial irregularities surrounding visa facilitation arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Copy link 1 Comment Add 3News as your preferred source on Google Preferred source Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate alleged corruption and financial irregularities surrounding visa facilitation arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In the petition dated October 15, the Ranking Member on Youth and Sports Committe in Parliament called for an independent investigation into the roles of the National Sports Authority (NSA), the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, TRIBE Culture Fest, the Ghana Tourism Federation and any other individuals or entities whose involvement may be established.

He is asking the OSP to determine whether the arrangements raise reasonable grounds for investigating suspected corruption, corruption-related offences, financial irregularities or possible abuse of public office.

Mr Assafuah cited provisions of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), which empower the Office to investigate and prosecute suspected corruption and related offences, recover proceeds of corruption, and investigate complaints involving possible corruption.

“I seek an independent determination of whether the conduct disclosed by the relevant documents and financial records gives rise to reasonable grounds for investigating any suspected corruption, possible corruption-related offences, financial irregularities and the potential misuse of public office,” he stated in the petition.

He said the circumstances surrounding the visa facilitation arrangements were serious enough to warrant the attention of the anti-corruption institution.

The petition comes amid growing scrutiny of arrangements involving the Sports Ministry, National Sports Authority, the Ghana Tourism Authority and TRIBE Culture Fest in connection with visa and travel assistance for the 2026 World Cup.

Mr Assafuah is seeking an assessment of the available documents and financial records to establish whether any conduct falls within the OSP’s jurisdiction and warrants further action under the law.

"I respectfully urge the Office to treat this petition with the seriousness it deserves and to take the appropriate steps to establish the financial trail, identify the persons responsible for the relevant decisions and determine whether any criminal offences have been committed." his petition noted.

The Old Tafo MP explained that he submitted the petition because he considers the issues raised to be matters of significant public interest requiring independent investigation.

"The questions concern the exercise of public authority, the allocation of opportunities, the accuracy of official representations, the verification of beneficiaries and the handling of money in connection with a major international sporting event," he stressed.

#5 Presidential Drive, Adesa We, Kanda, Greater Accra. Ghana