- Prof Emmanuel Osei Sarpong Appointed Acting NSA Director-General
President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong as Acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority following the immediate suspension of Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.
Prof Sarpong, an associate professor of exercise and sports science at the University of Education, Winneba, will oversee the NSA while the Criminal Investigation Department investigates allegations concerning a purported visa-facilitation arrangement linked to the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
A letter dated October 1 and signed by Secretary to the President Callistus Mahama said the suspension was an administrative decision and did not amount to a finding of wrongdoing.
“His Excellency the President has directed that Mr Yaw Ampofo Ankrah be suspended from his duties as Director-General of the NSA with immediate effect, pending the completion of the investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department,” the letter said.
It added: “The suspension is an administrative measure and does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing.”
Mr Ampofo Ankrah has denied wrongdoing, while the NSA has said it did not authorise any visa-facilitation or money-collection scheme. The allegations remain under investigation and no criminal liability has been established against him or any other official.
Prof Sarpong is not new to the Authority.
He was a member of the NSA’s 2025-26 Governing Board and chaired its Technical Committee before President Mahama dissolved the board on September 2.
His return as acting head less than a month after the board’s dissolution gives him institutional familiarity at a time when the Authority faces questions about governance, sporting infrastructure and administrative accountability.
He currently serves as National Coordinator of the School and Grassroots Sports Secretariat at the Ministry of Sports and Recreation. He has also held responsibilities as Ghana’s National Coordinator for School Sports and served on national games and technical committees.
At UEW, Prof Sarpong’s academic work spans physical education, athlete development, sports performance and exercise science. He has also served as Dean of Student Affairs.
His name was linked to the NSA’s top position in January 2025 when sections of the sporting community called for the Authority to be led by a technically qualified sports professional.
Mr Ampofo Ankrah’s suspension follows heightened scrutiny over allegations that individuals paid money for assistance with visas and travel arrangements for the 2026 World Cup.
The Minority in Parliament alleged that more than US$600,000 was collected and that some applicants paid as much as US$8,000. These figures have not been established as fact by the ongoing police investigation.
Mr Ampofo Ankrah was questioned by investigators and has denied involvement. His lawyers have maintained his innocence, while the NSA’s legal team has said it is cooperating with the inquiry.
The President’s letter draws an important distinction between administrative responsibility and criminal culpability. Removing an official temporarily while an investigation proceeds may protect the institution and the integrity of the inquiry, but it must not be presented as proof of guilt.
Prof Sarpong assumes leadership of an Authority confronting challenges beyond the visa allegations.
The NSA is responsible for administering public sporting facilities and coordinating sporting activities across the country. Yet the condition and management of major venues, including the Accra and Baba Yara sports stadiums, have repeatedly attracted criticism.
His immediate responsibilities will include maintaining day-to-day operations, strengthening internal controls and ensuring that the ongoing investigation is not obstructed.
He will also be expected to improve the management of sporting facilities, support national federations and rebuild public confidence in an institution that has moved from one controversy to another.
His technical background may satisfy calls for sports institutions to be led by people with direct professional knowledge of athlete development and sports administration.
But technical expertise alone will not resolve the NSA’s problems. Prof Sarpong’s interim leadership will be judged by whether he improves financial controls, clarifies lines of responsibility and makes the Authority’s decisions more transparent.
The appointment also creates a governance question: as a member and Technical Committee chair of the dissolved board, Prof Sarpong was already part of the institution’s previous oversight structure.
That does not make him responsible for the allegations under investigation. It does mean, however, that his familiarity with the NSA must now be used to identify what failed, preserve relevant records and ensure that institutional accountability extends beyond a change in leadership.
His appointment is therefore more than an interim administrative measure. It is a test of whether the government intends merely to replace the person at the top—or address the weaknesses that made the NSA vulnerable to controversy in the first place.
