Ghana Challenges Canada in Court 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 refusal to grant Thomas Partey a visa.

The 33-year-old midfielder has been ruled out of Ghana’s first game against Panama in Toronto on Wednesday after being denied entry to the country, a decision that has triggered an unusually forceful political response from Accra.

Courtroom battle on matchday

The case will be heard in Ottawa at 14:00 BST (09:00 Eastern Time), as Ghana’s government seeks a rapid intervention that would allow Partey to join the squad, even briefly, for the fixture.

Officials are asking the court to permit the former Arsenal player to enter Canada on a short-term basis specifically to take part in the match. They have also requested that Canadian immigration authorities be ordered to let him file a fresh visa application.

The clock is already against them. Ghana play in Toronto while their most high-profile player’s fate is being argued hundreds of kilometres away in a federal courtroom.

Visa denial tied to UK criminal case

Partey’s visa problems stem from ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK.

He 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.

Those charges sit at the heart of Canada’s refusal. For Ghana, they are also the crux of a wider argument about fairness, due process and the treatment of an athlete who has not been convicted of any offence.

The government has branded the Canadian decision “high-handed and extremely unfair”, language that underlines just how seriously the issue is being taken in Accra.

Diplomatic pressure joins legal push

Ghana’s foreign minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has confirmed that the country is not relying solely on the courts.

He has said Ghana is exploring diplomatic channels to secure a visa for Partey, adding a layer of state-to-state negotiation to what began as a routine sporting travel request.

That dual-track approach – legal and diplomatic – reflects the stakes. This is not only about one player’s availability, but also about a government’s insistence that its citizens receive what it sees as equitable treatment abroad.

Uncertain timeline, major absence

What happens next is unclear. The duration of the court proceedings has not been specified, and there is no guarantee of a quick ruling.

What is certain is that Partey will miss Ghana’s opener against Panama in Toronto. For a side built for years around his presence in midfield, that is a major tactical and psychological blow on the eve of a World Cup campaign.

As the team walks out in Toronto without its most recognisable figure, a different contest will be unfolding in Ottawa – one that could shape not just this tournament for Ghana, but the conditions under which its star man can represent his country in the months ahead.