The United States Embassy introduced TRIBE Culture Fest to the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) ahead of activities planned around the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has said.

Mr Adams disclosed during an interview with Accra-based TV3, explaining how the events organisation became involved in arrangements linked to Ghana’s World Cup activities in the United States.

According to him, the introduction took place at a meeting at the US Embassy and was not initiated by the Sports Ministry.

“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 Minister also said the NSA did not inform the Sports Ministry of any agreement it had reached with the US Embassy concerning visa arrangements.

He further explained that the authority’s discussions with the embassy were not necessarily focused on securing visas, distinguishing those engagements from the ministry’s own efforts to coordinate travel-related requests.

The Sports Ministry has previously stated that its role was limited to forwarding a request from the NSA for visa support for 90 people described as volunteers and event coordinators.

It maintained that forwarding the request did not mean the ministry selected the applicants or guaranteed that they would be granted visas.

The arrangements have come under scrutiny amid questions about the submission of names to foreign diplomatic missions and the roles played by the state institutions and TRIBE Culture Fest.

The Minority in Parliament has called for a broader investigation into the involvement of the Sports Ministry, NSA, GTA and TRIBE Culture Fest to establish how the arrangements were handled and whether the relevant procedures were followed.

Meanwhile, TRIBE Culture Fest CEO Nana Boateng Gyimah has denied allegations that the organisation or he personally received US$611,000 from private individuals in connection with the visa arrangements and failed to refund the money.

In a statement, Mr Gyimah said the organisation’s agreement was solely with the NSA and GTA, insisting that neither he nor TRIBE Culture Fest received the alleged amount from any private individual.

He challenged Mr Adams to provide evidence to support his claims, including agreements and payment records showing who paid the money, who received it and how the amount was calculated.

Mr Gyimah also called on the Minister to substantiate the allegations or withdraw them and correct the public record, warning that his lawyers could pursue the matter.

The controversy remains under scrutiny, with questions persisting over the respective roles of the institutions involved and the financial arrangements connected to Ghana’s World Cup activities.