Ghana Challenges Canada Over Thomas Partey Visa Denial

Ghana’s World Cup preparations have been dragged from the training pitch into a courtroom in Ottawa, with the government formally challenging Canada’s refusal to grant midfielder Thomas Partey a visa.

The 33-year-old is set to miss Ghana’s World Cup opener against Panama in Toronto on Wednesday after being denied entry, a ruling that has triggered a sharp diplomatic and legal response from Accra.

High-stakes hearing in Ottawa

The case will be heard at 14:00 BST (09:00 Eastern Time) in Ottawa, where Ghana is asking a Canadian court to review the decision that has sidelined one of its most high-profile players.

Partey’s visa problems stem from ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK. He has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022, and is due to stand trial next year.

Canadian authorities have refused him entry on that basis. Ghana has pushed back hard.

The government has branded the decision “high-handed and extremely unfair” and is asking the court for permission for Partey to enter Canada briefly so he can take part in the match against Panama. It also wants an order compelling Canadian immigration officials to allow the former Arsenal midfielder to file a fresh visa application.

Diplomatic pressure alongside legal fight

This is no routine paperwork dispute. It has become a full-blown diplomatic issue.

Ghana’s foreign minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has confirmed that the country is not relying solely on the courts. He has said Ghana is also exploring diplomatic channels in an effort to secure a Canadian visa for Partey, underlining how far the state is prepared to go to have him available.

For now, the clock is ticking. Kick-off in Toronto looms, and it remains unclear how long the court proceedings will take or whether any ruling will come in time to alter Ghana’s plans.

On the pitch, the team must prepare as if their most experienced midfielder will not walk out with them. Off it, a World Cup campaign has begun not with a roar in a packed stadium, but with lawyers arguing over whether one of Ghana’s star names can even set foot in the host country.