Ghana formally protests Canada's 'extremely unfair' visa denial for Thomas Partey on eve of World Cup opener

Ghana's formal protest

Ghana's foreign ministry issued a strongly worded statement on Saturday (13 June) after Canada refused to grant Thomas Partey a temporary resident permit for the World Cup. Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa described the decision as 'high-handed' and 'extremely unfair,' and said an official protest note had been delivered to Canadian authorities. The ministry is pursuing diplomatic and legal remedies to reverse the ruling, including a possible application before Canada's federal court.

“Ghana considers that reliance on unproven charges in the absence of a judicial determination raises fundamental questions of fairness and proportionality.”

Canada's legal basis

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invoked paragraph A36(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which permits inadmissibility on grounds of serious criminality for an act committed outside Canada that would be punishable by at least 10 years in prison. A spokesperson said all visa applicants are assessed individually based on the facts and the law, and that hosting a major event does not alter immigration rules. FIFA confirmed it is not involved in host countries' visa decisions.

Partey's pending UK trial

The Villarreal midfielder, formerly of Arsenal, faces seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault related to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial is scheduled for 2027 in the United Kingdom. Ghana's statement reaffirmed the 'fundamental legal principle of the presumption of innocence.'

Tournament impact

Because the Ghana squad has set up its base in Boston, Partey was able to enter the United States but cannot travel to Toronto for the group-stage opener against Panama on 17 June. However, FIFA confirmed he is eligible to play in the subsequent Group L matches, both in the USA: against England at Boston's Gillette Stadium on 23 June and against Croatia at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on 27 June. The team arrived in Washington D.C. on 4 June and later moved to a training base in Rhode Island.

A separate visa controversy this week saw Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan refused entry to the US over alleged terror links.