Ghana’s government has demanded a formal review of Canada’s decision to deny midfielder Thomas Partey entry, calling it “high-handed and extremely unfair” ahead of the Black Stars’ World Cup opener.
Partey will miss Ghana’s Group L match against Panama in Toronto on Wednesday after his visa application was rejected by Canadian authorities.
Ghana said in an official statement that it is using diplomatic channels to appeal the finding, claiming that it violates the assumption of innocence.
Read the statement below;
“The decision is understood to be based on pending criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom that have not resulted in any conviction,”.
“The government of Ghana reaffirms the fundamental legal principle of the presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of justice.”
It also stated that authorities would “explore and pursue all available remedies to ensure full and fair consideration of all factual issues.”
Individuals may be declared inadmissible in Canada if they have been convicted of or are suspected of committing certain crimes, even if processes are still underway.
Partey, 32, is presently practicing with the Ghana squad in Boston while the legal process continues in the United Kingdom. He has pleaded not guilty to various charges relating to alleged crimes committed between 2020 and 2022 and is scheduled to stand trial next year.
Despite the visa issue, the player is anticipated to be eligible for Ghana’s final group matches against England in Boston and Croatia later in the tournament, pending travel clearance.
A US Customs and Border Protection official verified that Partey was given entry into the US after getting a visa, noting that he had not been convicted of any crime.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz had already expressed confidence in picking Partey for the tournament, with the midfielder recently joining Villarreal after leaving Arsenal at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Ghana is hopeful of progressing from Group L, with the possibility of returning to Canada in the knockout stages depending on where they finish.