The allegations of financial irregularities linked to the visa processing for fans and officials for the just-ended FIFA World Cup have prompted calls for the resignation of the Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Adams.

The Minority in Parliament called for the Minister’s dismissal following allegations that people who were not Sports Ministry employees may have been presented to US authorities as ministry staff during the World Cup visa process, and that questions remain over the handling of about US$623,000 in visa facilitation fees.

The Minority says these allegations warrant his dismissal and possible prosecution if investigations establish culpability, citing his involvement in a deal with Tribe Fest.

Responding to the dismissal calls, the Minister justified that he had no hand in the alleged financial irregularities linked to the NSA, USA, GTA and TRIBE Culture Fest.

According to him, all arrangements were made among the aforementioned institutions without his involvement, citing that his outfit was later informed via a letter concerning event coordinators and volunteers.

“Well, I don’t see the justification. Both the American Embassy and TRIBE Culture Fest, the NSA and the GTA were doing their thing behind the Ministry. The Ministry didn’t know,” the Buem MP said while speaking on Ekosii Sen on Asempa FM.

He argued that the Ministry would have been aware of the arrangements had the parties involved informed it, copied it in their correspondence or formally presented their plans.

Mr Adams identified a letter dated 19 May requesting that the Ministry forward the names of event coordinators and volunteers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy as the first document that brought the matter to his attention.

“The first time I ever sat and had a conversation in relation to that matter was when the May 19 letter requested the forwarding of event coordinators and volunteers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy. That’s when I got to know the details of what was happening,” he said.

He explained that the letter was forwarded to the Ministry’s Chief Director, who serves on the technical committee overseeing the arrangements.

According to the minister, the committee had agreed that the names of individuals expected to perform specific duties during the World Cup should be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy to allow the necessary preparations to begin.

Mr Adams maintained that his involvement was limited to forwarding the letter through the appropriate administrative channels and that he had no knowledge of the alleged financial transactions.

“Government money has not been lost,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Mahama has asked the Director of the Sports Ministry to step down while investigations into the alleged financial irregularities are resolved. However, the Minority has urged the President to dismiss and prosecute the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) chief executive over alleged involvement in the arrangements.