Ghana govt protests Canada’s denial of entry to Partey
Ghana’s government has described the Canadian government’s decision to deny Thomas Partey entry into the country for the game against Panama on Thursday as “extremely unfair”.
Partey was denied entry into Canada as his visa application was rejected because of his involvement in a rape case ongoing in England.
He 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. He is due to stand trial next year.
The Villarreal midfielder is expected to miss his country’s World Cup opener against Panama on Thursday.
The Ghana’s government has called for a review of the decision while branding it “high-handed and extremely unfair” in a statement released by Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, on Saturday.
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The statement read: “Ghana has dispatched an official note of protest and also requested that Canada review its unfortunate decision”.
“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,” said the statement
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says it makes its decisions on a case-by-case basis and that hosting major events does not change its laws.
FIFA has confirmed on Friday that Partey would 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 games against England and Croatia, both taking place in the United States.
