Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, says the American Embassy introduced Tribe Fest Culture to the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) before planning began for activities connected to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mr Adams said the introduction took place during a meeting at the US Embassy. He added that the nature of the relationship had led to questions over whether officials at either state institution used the connection for an improper purpose.
Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues on Sunday, October 11, he addressed the controversy surrounding visa support and Tribe Fest Culture’s involvement in the proposed events.
“Tribe Fest Culture, I’m told was introduced to the National Sports Authority and the Ghana Tourism Authority by the American Embassy, that is what my investigations told me,” he said.
“The American Embassy introduced them to the NSA and the GTA at a meeting at the American Embassy. That is why I am even shocked. They (US Embassy) have every right to question if anybody at the NSA or GTA took advantage of that introduction and relationship to do something untoward.”
Mr Adams said the information available to him described Tribe Fest Culture’s intended role as organising “activations”.
Asked to explain what that meant in the context of the proposed programme, he replied: “They would be the best persons to come and explain what activation means.”
He said the embassy had planned a programme in Ghana linked to the World Cup, which the US Embassy will host under a concept known as “16 by 16”.
The proposal was for 16 events, with one held in each region. Larger events were planned for Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, Tamale in the Northern Region and Cape Coast in the Central Region.
Those three cities were expected to provide viewing points on selected match days, using facilities belonging to the NSA. Mr Adams said his understanding was that Tribe Fest Culture would manage the events, or “activations”.
“From the understanding that I got, the American Embassy itself wanted to have some events in the country because they were hosting the World Cup anyway and that they indicated, they called it 16 by 16,” he said.
“They want to have 16 events, one in each region but the main will be in Kumasi in Ashanti Region, Tamale in Northern Region and Cape Coast in Central Region. These three, they will have viewing points on some of the day that they will have matches in these three Regions. And they used normally, the NSA facilities.”
Mr Adams said officials initially understood that the activations would take place only in Ghana. They became aware of planned events in the United States on May 19, after receiving a letter from the Director-General of the NSA.
The letter, he said, referred to activities in both Ghana and the United States and requested assistance with visa processing for people identified as “volunteers and event coordinators”. A list of 90 volunteers was attached.
The minister’s comments come as questions continue over the proposed visa arrangements and the separate roles of the NSA, GTA and Tribe Fest Culture.
