ACCRA, Ghana (AP) 鈥� Ghana’s government has criticized Canada’s 鈥渆xtremely unfair鈥� decision to deny midfielder Thomas Partey a visa for his team鈥檚 opener while he awaits trial on rape charges, and it threatened legal action in a bid to overturn the refusal.
The 32-year-old Partey, who is scheduled to stand trial in London later this year, returned to Ghana鈥檚 base camp in Rhode Island after Canada denied his visa application to enter the country for Wednesday’s match against Panama in Toronto.
Ghana鈥檚 Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday criticizing what it called 鈥渢he high-handed and extremely unfair decision by Canada to refuse a temporary residence application鈥� for Partey.
Partey faces allegations from several women dating to his time with English club Arsenal from 2020-25. Partey, who played in Spain for Villarreal this past season, has pleaded not guilty.
Ghana鈥檚 government said it 鈥渞eaffirms the fundamental legal principle of the presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of justice and due process in democratic societies.鈥�
鈥淲hile respecting Canada鈥檚 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,” the statement read. “Accordingly, Ghana is pursuing active diplomatic engagements with the relevant Canadian authorities on this matter.鈥�
Ghana coach for Partey when he included the player in his World Cup squad.
Ghana鈥檚 government said it had sent an 鈥渙fficial note of protest鈥� to Canada asking for the decision to be reviewed, and that it was 鈥渄etermined to explore and pursue all available diplomatic, legal and administrative remedies under Canadian and international law, including, where appropriate, judicial review before the Federal Court of Canada, to ensure full and fair consideration of all relevant legal and factual issues in accordance with due process.鈥�
The statement added that the Ministry has been holding talks with Canadian officials and that Ghana 鈥渞emains committed to constructive engagements” with their counterparts in pursuit of 鈥渁n amicable resolution in a timely manner.鈥�
Partey鈥檚 lawyer to two new charges of rape after a woman alleged Partey twice raped her on the same day in December 2020. He had separately been awaiting trial on five counts of rape related to two other women and one count of sexual assault involving another woman, and the new allegations arose after the .
Partey will be able to play June 23 when Ghana faces England in Massachusetts. Ghana concludes group play June 27 against Croatia in Philadelphia.
鈥淢ay the beautiful game of football continue to live up to its reputation of uniting nations, forging lasting bonds of friendship, playing by the rules, and promoting fair play both on and off the field,鈥� Ghana鈥檚 government said in its statement.
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