Ghana Challenges Canada Over Thomas Partey Visa Denial
Ghana’s opening World Cup fixture has been dragged from the pitch into a courtroom in Ottawa, with the government formally challenging Canada’s decision to deny midfielder Thomas Partey a visa.
Partey, 33, has been ruled out of Wednesday’s Group match against Panama in Toronto after Canadian authorities refused him entry because of his ongoing criminal case in the UK. The absence of one of the Black Stars’ most experienced players is a major blow; the fallout has now escalated into a diplomatic and legal confrontation.
The case will be heard at 14:00 BST (09:00 Eastern Time) in Ottawa, where Ghana is asking a judge to overturn, or at least soften, the decision. Officials want permission for Partey to enter Canada on a strictly limited basis so he can feature in the World Cup opener, before leaving the country immediately after his national-team duties.
At the heart of the dispute lies a serious legal backdrop. Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations from four women between 2020 and 2022. He is due to stand trial in the UK next year. Those charges, and the live nature of the proceedings, are central to Canada’s stance on his admissibility.
Ghana’s government has not taken the refusal quietly. It has branded the move “high-handed and extremely unfair”, arguing that the player should be allowed to fulfil his professional obligations under tight, time-bound conditions. The legal filing goes further, asking the court not only to permit temporary entry but also to direct Canadian immigration authorities to accept a fresh visa application from the former Arsenal midfielder.
While lawyers prepare arguments in Ottawa, the diplomatic machinery is also turning. Ghana’s foreign minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has confirmed that Accra is exploring parallel diplomatic channels in an attempt to secure clearance for Partey. That could mean direct talks with Canadian counterparts, or appeals through broader bilateral frameworks, as Ghana tries to salvage its squad plans on the eve of the tournament.
Time is the enemy. With kick-off looming in Toronto and no guarantee of a swift ruling, Ghana’s coaching staff must plan as though their veteran midfielder will not be available. The legal team, meanwhile, can only wait for the court’s timetable. For now, no one can say how long the proceedings will last, or whether any decision will come in time to change the shape of Ghana’s World Cup debut.
