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The government of Ghana has condemned Canada’s refusal to grant a temporary residence visa to Black Stars midfielder Thomas Teye Partey, describing the decision as “high-handed and extremely unfair.”
In a press release on Saturday, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) denied Partey’s application on grounds of inadmissibility under paragraph A36(1)(c) of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), citing pending criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
Accra, however, was quick to stress that the UK proceedings have not resulted in any conviction or judicial finding of guilt, and reaffirmed the fundamental legal principle of the presumption of innocence.
“While respecting Canada’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, Ghana considers that reliance on unproven charges in the absence of a judicial determination raises fundamental questions of fairness and proportionality,” the statement read.
Ghana dispatched an official note of protest to Global Affairs Canada on June 11, 2026, requesting a review of the decision. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has also held direct talks with the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Her Excellency Myriam Montrat.
The government said it is prepared to pursue all available diplomatic, legal, and administrative remedies, including judicial review before Canada’s Federal Court if necessary.
With Partey selected for Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, Accra is urging Ottawa to reverse the decision in the interest of fairness and the widely recognised principles of common law.
