They Took 30K, Promised Us Visas – Angry Group Exp0ses GFA, NLA Kofi Atta Mills Over World Cup

A group of aggrieved individuals has come forward with explosive allegations, claiming they were swindled out of tens of thousands of Ghana cedis by a fraudulent World Cup visa scheme tied to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the National Lottery Authority (NLA), specifically naming Kofi Atta Mills as being involved.

The victims, speaking out in anger, say they were promised golden tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in America, Canada, and Mexico. Instead, they claim they lost massive sums of money, with some reporting losses of up to GH¢15,000, and even GH¢30,000 in one case.

According to the allegations, the scheme was disguised as a legitimate “World Cup lottery” campaign, charging hopeful applicants GH¢20 per ticket for a chance to travel to the tournament. The group claims the operation was presented as a platform for national pride and youth engagement, with the NLA supervising draws using a certified random number generator . However, when the promised visas never materialized, the victims realized they had been deceived.

The angry group is now demanding accountability, insisting that government officials were complicit in the scheme. They are calling on police and security agencies to investigate what they describe as blatant fraud and false publication.

The scandal is not isolated. It has emerged amidst a broader firestorm surrounding Ghana’s World Cup preparations. The US Embassy’s Fraud Prevention Unit has reportedly flagged multiple applicants linked to the National Sports Authority (NSA) for discrepancies in their identities and employment details . Sports Minister Kofi Adams has stated he was never informed of any visa arrangements between the NSA and the US Embassy, claiming the ministry was kept in the dark.

The Minority in Parliament has raised even more alarming figures, alleging that individuals were charged as much as US$14,000 for visa processing, with names submitted under fictitious job titles like “World Cup Coordinator” that did not exist within the NSA’s organizational structure.

Meanwhile, the fallout has been swift. President John Dramani Mahama has directed the suspended NSA Director-General, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, to step aside while the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) probes the allegations . Ampofo Ankrah has declined to appear before Parliament, citing the ongoing police investigation.

For the furious group that lost their money, the promise of a World Cup dream has turned into a nightmare of shattered trust and financial ruin. Their demand is simple: those who took their money and made false promises must be held accountable, no matter how high up the ladder the scheme goes.

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