Ghana’s government says it’s planning legal action over Canada’s decision to deny the visa application of a member of its national soccer team awaiting a rape trial in London.
Midfielder Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to the allegations, which date back to when he played for the English club Arsenal in 2025.
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In a statement released on social media Saturday, Ghana says the decision by Canadian immigration authorities is “extremely unfair,” and Partey should be presumed innocent ahead of his trial.
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.
Partey was scheduled to travel with his team to Toronto from its base camp in Smithfield, Rhode Island, for its opening match against Panama on June 17.
Ghana says it is looking at all diplomatic, legal and administrative avenues.
Partey is scheduled to stand trial in November or later.
— With files from the Associated Press
The same reason we don’t let PPs in-laws into Canada, his father in-law is a convicted organized crime boss. Keep the garbage out especially anyone related to PP, you’re garbage by association.
He will probably get around 10.5 million from Canada once convicted.
Maybe liberals only do that for terrorists and not rapists, time will tell.
Ghana officials need to understand rape is not a part of Canadian culture, it is a crime, respect that of be gone.
He would have stood a better chance to get in had he been convicted.
The Liberal Party is trying to balance the numbers of criminals,extortionists,gang members ,IRGC members,terrorists, CCP agents and other unproductive ticks it allows into the country so they obviously want convicted rapists here,not just the accused.
@ Smith, so for you, it’s already a “perp”. Not convicted, just an allegation in London (UK), NOT in Canada, and allowed to travel anywhere but Canada. Smith, do you remember allegations against Jian Ghomeshi? Sport should be above politics, PR’s, and horse manure. I don’t know about you, but I’m quite worried about Canada’s international reputation, which has been in free fall for the last two decades.
Good decision! Our laws must be respected.
Every perp claims “not guilty” so him saying that doesn’t automatically make him innocent. He didn’t shoplift a chocolate bar, he’s facing trial on a rape charge!
Wait for the trial, then it will be settled either way. Until then, do not let a potential rapist in, end of.
When’s this soccer garbage guna be over. I’m done with this garbage
Dieter kroll,
Boy George was not charged with or convicted of rape. He was convicted of false imprisonment and assault.
Boy George is a convicted rapist and canada still allows him to make money in canada.
No No No.
We dont want acused rapists in the country!
Only convicted ones!
Had he been found guilty first the Canadian government would have fast tracked his visa, given him your house, and set him up with a family doctor.
Glad they wouldn’t let the rapist in
Too bad they.dont do the same for terrorists
Countries have the right to deny anyone who isn’t a citizen into their country. That’s why we have visas and passports to know who is coming and going.
“extremely unfair” says Ghana. Too bad so sad. Bring on the “legal action”.
Canada bars people with a criminal record. Innocent until proven guilty is our standard rule. – I wonder what else there is, as this is not sufficient.
It is way too easy for someone to accuse, and hard to defend if one is considered guilty until proven innocent.
The US has the same rules… I wonder how he got into the US?