Ghana Seeks Review of Partey’s Canada Visa Ban

The Ghanaian government is actively pursuing a review of the visa ban imposed on midfielder Thomas Partey, which prevents him from entering Canada for the Black Stars' opening match against Panama on June 23. The Canadian authorities denied Partey's visa application due to pending criminal charges, including seven counts of rape and sexual assault related to allegations involving four different women from 2020 to 2022.

Partey, who is 32 years old and currently plays for Arsenal, has pleaded not guilty to these charges and is set to stand trial next year. The Ghanaian government has stated that it will engage with Canadian officials to seek a reversal of the decision, emphasizing the legal principle of presumption of innocence.

Ghana's head coach, Carlo Queiroz, has indicated that he would have no qualms about selecting Partey for the tournament, despite the ongoing legal issues. The Black Stars are scheduled to play in Toronto on June 23 and will also face Croatia on June 27.