Ghana officially escalates after Party crisis. Canada has crossed all the red lines

In a sharp diplomatic escalation, Ghana’s government on Saturday described Canada’s decision to deny international player Thomas Partey an entry visa as “arrogant and grossly unfair”, barring him from his country’s crucial match against Panama in Toronto on Tuesday, while G’s foreign minister protested the 2026 World Cup. demanding the immediate cancellation of the event.

According to an official statement from Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Canadian immigration service on Saturday rejected the visa application based on the criminal proceedings against the midfielder in the United Kingdom, which “did not result in any conviction or conviction”.

Ghana’s official position

In its statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana reaffirmed the principle of the presumption of innocence, strongly criticizing the Ottawa authorities, based on unproven allegations, not allowing the Black Stars player to participate in the official match of the world’s biggest sports tournament, considering that the decision has no sound legal basis and is contrary to the basic principles of justice.

A diplomatic move

“The Government of Ghana is determined to explore and exhaust all available diplomatic, legal and administrative remedies under Canadian and international law to ensure a full and fair consideration of all relevant legal and factual issues in accordance with due process,” the official document said, a clear indication that Accra will not accept the fact that it is a fait accompli and will seek to escalate the issue at all diplomatic and legal levels.

Alongside the official announcement, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablako, launched an urgent diplomatic effort, sending an official note of protest to Canada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, demanding the immediate cancellation of the event, stressing that the decision sets a dangerous precedent that could affect the credibility of the assurances given by the participants of the free movement of the World Cup host countries.

Partey, 32, who currently plays for Spanish club Villarreal, has been charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in relation to the alleged incidents in the UK between 2020 and 2022. However, he has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is now awaiting a trial date, which has yet to be set, and has not yet been sentenced.