Ghana Challenges Canada Over Thomas Partey Visa Denial
Ghana’s build-up to their World Cup opener has moved from the training pitch to the courtroom, with the government formally challenging Canada’s decision to deny Thomas Partey a visa.
The 33-year-old midfielder has been ruled out of Wednesday’s Group match against Panama in Toronto after Canadian authorities refused him entry, citing his ongoing criminal case in the UK.
A hearing has been scheduled for 14:00 BST (09:00 Eastern Time) in Ottawa, where Ghana is seeking a rapid reversal – or at least a narrow window that would allow Partey to travel solely to fulfil national-team duties.
High-stakes match, high-stakes courtroom
Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022. He is due to stand trial next year in the UK, a process that now stretches far beyond club and country into international diplomacy.
Canada’s refusal has triggered an unusually forceful response from Accra. The Ghanaian government has branded the decision “high-handed and extremely unfair” and is pushing for the court to grant temporary entry permission tailored around the Panama fixture.
The application goes further. Ghana has also asked the court to instruct Canadian immigration officials to allow Partey to lodge a fresh visa application, hoping to create a legal pathway that could be used beyond this one match.
Diplomatic channels open
Ghana’s foreign minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has confirmed that the country is not relying solely on the legal route. Diplomatic efforts are under way in parallel, as officials look for a solution that would let the former Arsenal midfielder join up with the squad in North America, even briefly.
For now, coach and players prepare without their most experienced central midfielder, unsure whether the legal challenge will move quickly enough to alter their plans. The timing is tight. The stakes are obvious.
What remains unclear is how long the Ottawa proceedings will last – and whether Ghana’s push in the courtroom can change anything before the first whistle blows in Toronto.
