‘Only five out of 31 World Cup raffle winners secured US visas’ - Kofi Adams

Sports Minister Kofi Adams has disclosed that only five out of 31 winners organised to facilitate travel to the 2026 FIFA World Cup successfully secured united States visas.

Speaking on the controversy surrounding the World Cup fundraising and visa arrangements, Adams said all participants in the initial raffle had their monies refunded, including those who had won.

He explained that at a subsequent meeting, it was agreed that the initial winners who had received refunds should resubmit their monies to Rambel to enable the company to process their travel documents.

However, according to information presented to the committee, almost all the winners rejected the arrangement, indicating their preference to have their money refunded.

Adams further disclosed that a second raffle was subsequently organised, producing 31 winners, all of whom had their documents processed.

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However, only five were successful in securing US visas.

The minister said efforts were underway to ensure that the remaining winners who could not travel to the tournament receive financial compensation.

He also insisted that funds generated from the raffle organised by Impuntu remained untouched and were still being held by the committee to ensure that all affected participants were appropriately compensated.

Responding to allegations by the Minority in Parliament regarding the handling of the fundraising exercise, Adams dismissed the claims as false.

“We have refunded every pesewa, including the raffle winners,” he stated.

🎥 🇬🇭 “We have refunded every pesewa, including the raffle winners.”

Sports Minister Kofi Adams says only five of the 31 winners of a second raffle organised to facilitate travel to the 2026 FIFA World Cup secured US visas.

#CitiSports https://t.co/13j4GSHLSH

— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) November 5, 2026