Ghana is not backing down after Thomas Partey was refused entry into Canada for their World Cup opening encounter with Panama and has asked for a reversal, Yankee Scores reports.
Panama, World Cup debutants, will face Ghana on Wednesday.
Thomas Partey is expected to be tried in court after the World Cup following seven charges of rape and one of sexual assault have been leveled against him by London’s Metropolitan Police.
This led to his denial of rights by Canada as he was refused access to Canadian soil before Ghana’s debut in the competition, but the Ghana insists he is innocent until proven otherwise.
Ghana vows to fight
“If any Ghanaian is touched anywhere, we will not keep quiet over it,” Sports Minister Kofi Adams told local station Channel One TV on Friday. “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 that we think frowns on international laws and conventions, which both Ghana and Canada are party to.
FIFA must rise up and do something about Canada denying Thomas Partey’s visa, as it sets a bad precedent for the tournament. – Kofi Adams, Sports Minister#GhanaTonight #TV3GH pic.twitter.com/JwkAaQUCR3
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) June 13, 2026
“We think it’s appropriate to get the appropriate authorities to review this decision,” he added. “We’ve taken it to that level, and we hope and pray that they do what they must do.”
Canada and FIFA Stand Firm on Border Rights
An official spokesman from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada released a statement on behalf of Minister Lena Diab in ESPN, clarifying that the refusal of the visa is legitimate, considering the fact that Canada “always evaluates the individual seeking entry based on the information available and relevant laws.”
It is a decision that has been strongly supported by FIFA since Canada holds jurisdiction in issuing visas and admitting persons in their country.
However, the government of Ghana reacted that Partey, and his teammates went through the appropriate steps to apply for a visa, and that Canadian authorities are setting an unacceptable precedent in denying the Villareal midfielder entry.
Ghana Labels Decision “Flimsy”
“Thomas was one of the players who was asked to go to the [London] embassy for his biometrics, and then yesterday morning we got the decision that he has been denied entry to Canada on very flimsy grounds,” Adams said. “I say flimsy because the person has already been charged, he has not been found guilty.
Government of Ghana’s strong reservations and high stakes diplomatic interventions following the Canadian Visa Refusal of Thomas Teye Partey of the Black Stars FIFA World Cup team. pic.twitter.com/qNoiqbnrAa
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) June 13, 2026
“Even in the country where they claim he committed the act, for which reason he is in court, which he has denied, he is still living there, as a free citizen, walking about freely and doing anything every free citizen should do.
“He’s plying his trade, so one is therefore surprised that Canada — which is so far away — will now apply rules to the extent where somebody has merely been charged.”
According to the laws of the United Kingdom, an act cannot be said to qualify as a crime until the police force and the Crown Prosecution Service are sure that the case is ready for court prosecution.
“This is absolutely wrong,” Adams said. “I don’t understand why today Canada is interpreting their rules to suggest that a charge means guilty.”
Following the clash with Panama, Ghana will head back to the United States to take on England in Boston and later play against Croatia in Philadelphia, which is scheduled to happen on June 27.
However, if the Black Stars manage to qualify second in the group, then they will have to head to Canada to battle it out against the team qualifying second in Group K in Toronto on July 2.
