By Ishmeal 
President John Dramani Mahama has removed Yaw Ampofo Ankrah from his position as Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), bringing his tenure at the state sports agency to an end.
The development was confirmed on Thursday, October 1, 2026, with Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong appointed as Acting Director-General of the NSA.
Ampofo Ankrah’s removal comes less than a month after President Mahama dissolved the governing board of the National Sports Authority on September 2, 2026.
The NSA was among nine state institutions whose governing boards were dissolved by the President. The Presidency said the affected boards would be reconstituted in due course.
Ampofo Ankrah Remained in Charge After Board Dissolution
Although the NSA board was dissolved, Ampofo Ankrah remained responsible for the Authority’s day-to-day administration.
His position as Director-General was separate from his membership of the governing board, meaning the dissolution of the board did not automatically remove him from his executive position.
The situation changed on October 1, with his removal from the Director-General position and the appointment of Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong in an acting capacity.
Visa Allegations Put NSA Leadership Under Scrutiny
Ampofo Ankrah’s tenure had also come under increased public and parliamentary scrutiny over allegations surrounding a visa-facilitation arrangement linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Minority in Parliament called for his suspension or dismissal in September, citing allegations that more than US$600,000 had been collected through an arrangement involving people seeking assistance with travel and visa-related arrangements for the tournament.
The Minority also alleged that some individuals were charged as much as US$8,000 for assistance with travel arrangements.
However, these remain allegations. The NSA publicly denied authorising any visa facilitation or money-collection scheme and said its legal team was cooperating with a police investigation.
The Minority itself also stated that it was not prejudging the outcome of the investigation or declaring anyone guilty before the facts were established.
New Leadership at the NSA
With Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong now serving as Acting Director-General, attention will turn to the next phase of leadership at the National Sports Authority.
The NSA is responsible for the development, promotion and administration of sports, as well as the management of state sporting facilities.
The change in leadership comes at a time when Ghana’s sporting infrastructure has attracted significant public attention, including concerns about the condition and availability of major facilities such as the Accra Sports Stadium and Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The latest development is expected to generate further discussion among sports administrators, athletes, federations and other stakeholders as the government works toward a new leadership structure for the Authority.
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