Ghana’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs has lodged a proper criticism with Canadian authorities over the denial of a visa to Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey for Ghana’s World Cup opener towards Panama on June 17, 2026 in Toronto.
In a press release launched on Saturday, June 13, 2026, the ministry stated it’s ready to hunt judicial assessment within the Federal Courtroom of Canada if efforts to resolve the problem via diplomatic channels fail.
Associated article: Confirmed: Thomas Partey denied entry to Canada, will miss Ghana’s World Cup opener
“FIFA has introduced that Thomas Partey’s visa software has been rejected by the Canadian authorities and he can be unable to journey to Canada from the Ghanaian crew’s base camp in Boston, USA, for the opening match towards Panama on Wednesday, June seventeenth. “FIFA isn’t concerned within the host nation’s immigration procedures, together with visa checks. As with earlier FIFA occasions, the host nation’s authorities finally decides who’s granted a visa and allowed entry.”FIFA stated in a press release on Friday. (June 12).
The Canadian authorities’s web site states that the principles for visiting Canada state: “When you have dedicated or been convicted of against the law, you is probably not permitted to enter Canada.”
Because of this anybody charged with an offense that may be a prison offense in Canada beneath Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Safety Act could also be “not prosecuted” and doesn’t essentially imply they have to first await conviction.
“Indicted” vs. “Convicted”
Canada considers the costs to be critical crimes within the type of assault, fraud and drug trafficking and is contemplating the costs themselves. Immigration officers can subsequently decide that an applicant poses a hazard and forestall them from coming into the nation.
Why was Thomas Partey denied a visa?
Thomas Partey was charged by the Metropolitan Police in July 2025 with 5 counts of rape and one depend of sexual assault.
In September 2025, the vice captain of Ghana pleaded not responsible. In April 2026, he was charged with two new counts of sexual assault, to which he additionally pleads not responsible.
Thomas Partey is one in every of Africa’s finest holding midfielders. He’s primarily recognized for his spells with Atlético Madrid (2013-2020) and Arsenal (2020-25). He presently performs for La Liga giants Villarreal.
Partey has pleaded not responsible to all fees, however is awaiting trial and has not been convicted.
diplomatic assertion
In a press release launched on Saturday, June 13, 2026, the Ministry of Overseas Affairs stated Ghana submitted an official protest letter to International Affairs Canada on June 11, 2026, requesting a assessment of the choice.
In response to the newspaper, Overseas Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa mentioned the problem with Miriam Monttrat, Canada’s Excessive Commissioner to Ghana.
The ministry stated it should pursue all diplomatic, authorized and administrative avenues accessible beneath Canadian and worldwide regulation, together with judicial assessment within the Federal Courtroom of Canada, if obligatory, to make sure “a full and honest consideration of all related authorized and factual points in accordance with due course of.”
In response to a press release, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) rejected the events’ software for non permanent keep on the premise of inadmissibility beneath paragraph A36(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Safety Canada Act.
The ministry stated the choice was based mostly on ongoing prison proceedings involving Partey within the UK. The 32-year-old, who performs for Spanish membership Villarreal, is charged with seven counts of rape and one depend of sexual assault towards 4 girls over incidents that allegedly occurred between 2020 and 2022. He has pleaded not responsible to all fees.
The trial, initially scheduled for November 2026, has been postponed and is now scheduled to start on June 8, 2027.
The ministry stated Ghana isn’t contesting Canada’s proper to implement its immigration legal guidelines, however does object to reliance on fees that haven’t been confirmed in court docket in making inadmissibility selections.
It argued that making such a call based mostly on allegations that didn’t end in a judicial discovering of guilt violates the precept of the presumption of innocence.
The assertion added that counting on unproven fees with out judicial dedication raises, in its phrases, “elementary questions of equity and proportionality.”
Canada maintains its place on this situation. IRCC stated all individuals looking for entry have been individually reviewed based mostly on accessible information and relevant regulation.
He added that internet hosting worldwide occasions such because the FIFA World Cup won’t change Canada’s immigration legal guidelines.
The ministry stated if Canada refuses to revisit the matter via diplomatic channels, Ghana reserves the precise to hunt judicial assessment within the Federal Courtroom of Canada.
The assertion expressed the hope that “diplomatic method, based mostly on our traditionally pleasant and pleasant traditions, will result in a well timed and amicable decision.”
A duplicate of the total assertion is connected beneath.
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