The Government of Ghana has expressed what it describes as “strong reservations” following the refusal of a temporary residence application by Canadian immigration authorities for Mr. Thomas Teye Partey, a Ghanaian international footballer currently part of the Black Stars squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a statement issued in Accra on 13 June 2026 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government indicated that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decided based on inadmissibility under paragraph A36(1)(c) of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), which relates to foreign nationals with pending criminal proceedings.
According to the statement, the refusal is linked to ongoing legal processes in the United Kingdom that, at this stage, have not resulted in any conviction or judicial determination of guilt. The government emphasized the importance of the legal principle of the presumption of innocence, describing it as a “cornerstone of justice and due process” within democratic legal systems.
While acknowledging Canada’s sovereign authority in the application of its immigration laws, Ghana argued that reliance on “unproven charges” in the absence of a final court ruling raises concerns regarding fairness and proportionality in administrative decision-making.
The Ministry further disclosed that Ghana has already initiated diplomatic engagement on the matter, including the transmission of an official note of protest to Global Affairs Canada on 11 June 2026. The note reportedly requested a review of what the government described as an “unfortunate decision” affecting a national team player during a major international tournament.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is also said to have held discussions with Canadian counterparts, including the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Myriam Montrat, as part of ongoing “constructive engagements” aimed at resolving the matter through diplomatic channels.
Government indicated that it is prepared to explore “all available diplomatic, legal and administrative remedies” under both Canadian and international legal frameworks, including the possibility of judicial review before the Federal Court of Canada, should it become necessary to secure what it terms full and fair consideration of the case.
The statement also emphasized the sporting and national significance of Partey’s role in the Black Stars squad at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, urging Canadian authorities to reconsider their decision in the interest of fairness and established common law principles.
