Ghana said Saturday it has formally lodged a protest over Canada’s refusal to issue a visa for the World Cup to player Thomas Partey, who is facing trial in Britain on rape charges.
In a statement posted on social media by Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana called Canada’s decision “high-handed and extremely unfair”, describing Partey as “a key member of Ghana’s senior national team”.
“Ghana has dispatched an official note of protest” to Canada, the statement said, adding that the “note also requested that Canada reviews 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,” the statement said.
FIFA has confirmed that Partey will not be able to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston to Canada for their opening match against Panama on June 17.
The 32-year-old will be eligible to play in Ghana’s subsequent Group L matches against England and Croatia, both of which will take place in the United States.
However, the African side may return to Canada if they reach the knockout stage.
Ghana vowed to explore all diplomatic and legal “remedies” under Canadian and international law to ensure full and “fair consideration” of the case, while urging Ottawa to “rescind its decision in the interest of fairness and cardinal principles of common law”.
Canadian immigration authorities said they could not provide details on individual cases, adding that the safety of Canadian citizens remained their priority.
Canada’s immigration service said its officials apply rules “consistently and without exception, regardless of nationality, profile, or role in the tournament”.
US authorities said they were aware of the pending court case but noted that “he has not been convicted of a crime and was admitted to the United States after being issued a visa”.
