NPP Sports Committee spokesperson Seth Panwum has questioned the Ghana Football Association's handling of the Thomas Partey selection issue, describing the situation as a major governance failure that could have been avoided with proper planning and due diligence. Speaking on the controversy surrounding Partey's inability to enter Canada for Ghana's opening FIFA World Cup match against Panama, Panwum stressed that his concerns are not about the player's guilt or innocence but rather the GFA's responsibility to anticipate and manage foreseeable risks. "It is important to state that Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him and remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction," Panwum said. "My concern is not about the player. My concern is about the Ghana Football Association and whether it conducted the necessary checks before including him in the World Cup squad." Partey, who is facing multiple criminal charges in England, was denied a Canadian visa ahead of Ghana's opening fixture, forcing the Black Stars to begin their campaign without one of their most experienced players. According to Panwum, the player's legal situation had been public knowledge for months and should have prompted the GFA to conduct a comprehensive assessment of any immigration challenges that could arise during the tournament. "The charges against Partey were already in the public domain long before the World Cup squad was announced. The GFA had enough time to assess the immigration implications and engage the relevant authorities if necessary," he stated. "A professional football administration should have anticipated the possibility of a visa refusal and made the appropriate contingency plans." The sports administrator argued that modern football governance goes beyond selecting talented players and includes legal, operational and logistical considerations that could affect a team's performance at major tournaments. "In today's football environment, due diligence is extremely important. You don't only look at a player's footballing ability. You also consider whether there are factors that could affect his availability for the competition," he explained. Panwum further suggested that the situation may have denied another deserving player the opportunity to represent Ghana on the world's biggest football stage. "If there was uncertainty about his ability to enter one of the host countries, then the Association should have considered all available options. Squad places at a World Cup are precious and should be allocated responsibly," he added. The NPP Sports Committee spokesperson also raised concerns about the financial and reputational impact of the episode, arguing that the controversy has shifted attention away from Ghana's performance on the pitch. "This should have been a football story. Instead, it became a governance issue and an unnecessary distraction for the team. Ghana football deserves better planning and better risk management," he said. Panwum believes the GFA owes the Ghanaian public an explanation regarding the processes that informed its decision to include Partey in the squad despite the apparent immigration risks. "The issue here is accountability. The GFA must explain whether proper legal advice was sought, whether immigration concerns were assessed and what measures were put in place to deal with any potential challenges," he concluded. The Black Stars are currently competing in their fifth FIFA World Cup and will be hoping to make a deep run in the tournament despite the setback involving their vice-captain. By: Emmanuel Owusu

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