International Relations Analyst Dr. Yaw Gebe has criticised Canada’s decision to deny Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey a temporary visa, arguing that national laws should not be allowed to undermine international commitments associated with major global sporting events.
The deputy captain of the Black Stars was denied entry into Canada due to ongoing legal proceedings involving rape and sexual assault charges, raising concerns about his availability for Ghana’s opening match against Panama in the ongoing World Cup on Wednesday, June 17.
Speaking to Citi News on Monday, June 15, 2026, Dr. Gebe described the development as disappointing and said Canada should take into account the broader international significance of the tournament.
“I am so disappointed about this particular development. We cannot use national laws to completely overwhelm international laws, rules, and regulations. That is unfortunate, if not unfair,” he said.
According to him, Canada, as a member of the international community and a host nation for the tournament, has a responsibility to uphold the spirit of international cooperation.
“Because if you belong to the community of nations, Canada should also play by international rules and regulations. So not allowing Thomas Partey to get involved is unacceptable,” Dr. Gebe stated.
He urged the Ghanaian government to intensify diplomatic engagement with Canadian authorities in an effort to secure a resolution before Ghana’s opening fixture.
“Canada by itself may not want to do anything unless the Ghanaian authorities, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, engage their counterparts on a one-to-one basis and see how things can go,” he said.
Dr. Gebe argued that diplomacy, rather than legal challenges, offers the best opportunity for resolving the matter.
“I don’t think they are going to use any legal argument to win this case, but rather diplomacy and, of course, some compromises can do the trick,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has acknowledged the urgency of the situation and said the government is actively pursuing diplomatic efforts to resolve the matter.
“We are using all diplomatic channels available to us and remain hopeful that this matter can be resolved before Ghana’s opening game,” the minister said.
The visa denial has sparked debate over the balance between national immigration laws and international sporting commitments, as Ghana seeks to ensure the availability of one of its key players for the World Cup campaign.
