Ghana’s government has stepped up its fight to overturn the decision preventing Thomas Partey from entering Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Sports Minister Kofi Adams describing the move as “absolutely wrong” and based on “flimsy” grounds.
The former Arsenal midfielder is currently set to miss Ghana’s opening Group L clash against Panama in Toronto after Canadian authorities denied him a visa.
Partey, who now plays for Spanish club Villarreal, has been charged by London’s Metropolitan Police with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The 33-year-old has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is awaiting trial.
Despite being granted a visa to enter the United States and joining Ghana’s training camp in Boston, FIFA confirmed on Friday that Partey would not be permitted to travel to Canada for the opening match.
The decision has sparked outrage among Ghanaian officials.
Speaking to Channel One TV, Sports Minister Kofi Adams said Ghana had already launched diplomatic efforts to challenge the ruling and called on Canadian authorities to reconsider.
“If any Ghanaian is touched anywhere, we will not keep quiet over it,” Adams said.
“Through the appropriate channels, we have communicated to the rightful authorities and are requesting for them to use all processes to review and give opportunity for a review of such a decision.”
Adams argued that Partey had not been convicted of any offence and questioned why Canada had chosen to deny entry to a player who remains free to live and work in the United Kingdom while legal proceedings continue.
The minister said treating criminal charges as proof of guilt undermined fundamental principles of justice.
“This is absolutely wrong,” Adams said.
“I don’t understand why today Canada is interpreting their rules to suggest that a charge means guilty.”
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs later issued its own statement condemning the decision as “high-handed and extremely unfair”.
The ministry acknowledged Canada’s right to enforce its immigration laws but argued that denying entry based on allegations that have not been tested in court raises serious concerns about fairness and proportionality.
Officials also pointed to the significant sporting implications of the decision, urging Canada to reverse its stance in the interests of justice and common law principles.
Canadian authorities have defended their position.
A statement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stressed that hosting the World Cup does not alter the country’s immigration laws and that all visitors are assessed individually based on available facts and applicable legislation.
FIFA has also distanced itself from the controversy, reiterating that visa decisions remain solely the responsibility of host governments.
Canada’s government website states that individuals who have committed or been convicted of a crime may be denied entry, although Partey has not been convicted of any offence.
While he is unable to feature in Toronto, Partey remains eligible to play in Ghana’s remaining group-stage matches in the United States.
The midfielder is expected to be available for Ghana’s clash against England in Boston on June 23 and their final group game against Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27.
For now, however, Ghana’s hopes of having one of their most experienced players available for the opening match rest on whether Canadian authorities agree to review their decision.
