World Cup: Ghana Protests Canada Visa Denial For Thomas Partey

Ghana has formally protested Canada’s refusal to issue a World Cup visa to midfielder Thomas Partey, who is facing trial in Britain on rape and sexual assault charges.

The protest comes ahead of Ghana’s opening World Cup match against Panama, scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the BMO Field in Toronto.

Partey, a key member of the Black Stars squad, will not be available for the encounter after being unable to travel from Ghana’s team base in Boston, United States, to Canada.

Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, disclosed the protest in a statement on Saturday.

Ablakwa said the Ghanaian government had concerns over what he described as “the high-handed and extremely unfair decision” to reject Partey’s visa application.

According to him, Partey remains “a key member of Ghana’s senior national team” and should not be denied entry on the basis of charges that have not been determined by a court.

“Ghana has dispatched an official note of protest,” to Canada, the statement said.

The foreign minister added that the note also requested that Canada review what he called its “unfortunate decision”.

Partey, who now plays for Villarreal after previously featuring for Arsenal, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault.

The charges relate to allegations involving four women between 2020 and 2022.

His trial has been fixed for next year, a development that allows the 32-year-old to remain available for Ghana at the World Cup.

However, the Canadian visa refusal means he will miss Ghana’s first game of the tournament.

The Ghanaian government said it respected Canada’s right to enforce its immigration laws, but argued that the decision raised concerns because Partey had not been convicted.

“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 said.

Ghana said it would continue to seek a review of the decision, especially because of Partey’s importance to the national team.

FIFA has confirmed that Partey will not be able to travel to Canada for Ghana’s opening match against Panama on June 17.

The decision leaves Ghana without one of its most experienced midfielders for the game in Toronto.

Partey is, however, expected to be eligible for Ghana’s remaining Group L matches against England and Croatia, both of which will take place in the United States.