Ghana protests Canada after denying footballer Partey a World Cup visa

Ghana formally lodged a protest on Saturday after Canada denied a visa to Thomas Partey, the Ghanaian midfielder who is currently on trial in Britain on rape charges.

Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa said the country was unhappy with what it described as a “high-handed and extremely unfair decision” that rejected Partey’s visa application. He added that the decision was “a key member of Ghana’s senior national team”.

The statement noted that Ghana had “dispatched an official note of protest” to Canada and that the note also requested a review of the decision.

Partey, who previously played for Arsenal and now represents Villarreal, has pleaded not guilty to seven rape charges and one sexual assault charge brought by four women alleging misconduct between 2020 and 2022.

Although a trial is scheduled for next year, allowing the 32‑year‑old to be available for the World Cup, he will not be able to participate in the opening match against Panama in Toronto on June 17.

“While respecting Canada’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, Ghana believes that relying on unproven charges in the absence of a judicial determination raises fundamental questions of fairness and proportionality,” the statement added.

FIFA confirmed that Partey would be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston to Canada for the opening match. He will be eligible to play in Ghana’s subsequent Group L games against England and Croatia, both scheduled in the United States.

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