The government of Ghana has launched a formal diplomatic petition against the government of Canada following a major tournament controversy.
The dispute arose after Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey was barred from entering the country, forcing Ghana to look for a resolution ahead of their highly anticipated group opener.
The 32-year-old Villarreal midfielder, formerly of Arsenal, was scheduled to travel with the rest of the Ghanaian squad from their base camp in the United States to Toronto.
However, FIFA confirmed on Friday that Canadian immigration authorities had rejected his travel documents, preventing him from participating in Wednesday’s Group L clash against Panama at the BMO Field.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister of Ghana, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, in a statement confirmed that the country has launched a petition against Canada.
Ablakwa said Ghana had problems with “the high-handed and extremely unfair decision” to reject a visa application by Partey, “a key member of Ghana’s senior national team”.
“Ghana has dispatched an official note of protest” to Canada, said, the statement adding that the “note also requested that Canada review its unfortunate decision”.
The Villarreal midfielder, who previously played for Arsenal, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022.
A trial has been set for next year, allowing the 32-year-old to represent Ghana at the World Cup, but he will not be involved in Wednesday’s match in Toronto.
“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,” said the statement.
While the real reason Partey was denied entry remains sketchy as of press time, the former Arsenal midfielder, now of Villarreal, had been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July 2025 by London’s Metropolitan Police.
In September of that year, he pleaded not guilty. He was charged with two new counts of rape in February this year, to which he pleaded not guilty in April.
Partey is due to stand trial in the United Kingdom on seven charges of rape and one of sexual assault. He denies the allegations
Also, while the Canadian government is yet to give reasons for denying Partey a visa, the country’s website outlines that, “if you have committed or been convicted of a crime, you may not be allowed into Canada.”
However, Partey has been charged, but is awaiting trial and has not been convicted.
