The Ghanaian government has strongly criticised Canada’s decision to deny midfielder Thomas Partey entry to the country ahead of their World Cup opener against Panama on Wednesday.
In a statement issued through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana called the move “high-handed and extremely unfair” and said it raised “fundamental questions of fairness and proportionality”.
Partey was called up to the Ghana squad for the 48-team tournament but last July was charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in London between 2020 and 2022.
The former Arsenal star, who now plays for Villarreal in Spain, has denied all the charges and a trial has been set for June 2027, which allowed the midfielder to represent his nation at this summer’s World Cup.
Ghanaian officials said they were “pursuing active diplomatic engagements with the relevant Canadian authorities” in the hope of achieving a resolution prior to the match against Panama, which is due to take place at BMO Field in Toronto.
“The Government of the Republic of Ghana expresses strong reservations following the high-handed and extremely unfair decision by Canada to refuse a temporary residence application for Mr Thomas Teye Partey, a Ghanaian national and key member of Ghana’s senior national football team, the Black Stars, which is participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” read the statement.
“The decision is understood to be based on pending criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom that have not resulted in any conviction or judicial finding of guilt.
“The Government of Ghana reaffirms the fundamental legal principle of the presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of justice and the process in democratic societies.
“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.”
In a previous statement issued to the Press Association on Saturday, FIFA confirmed the Canadian government’s decision and stressed once again it has no involvement in the immigration processes of host countries.
It was confirmed last month Partey’s trial on rape charges, originally set for November at Southwark Crown Court, had been pushed back to start on June 8th, 2027.
Partey has appeared previously in the dock to plead not guilty to all charges and is on bail during the legal proceedings, with a condition that he does not contact alleged victims. The next hearing in his case has been set for October 2nd.
Ex-Atletico Madrid midfielder Partey is set to face England in a World Cup Group L fixture, which will take place in Boston on June 23rd.
