Ghana's government has declared its intention to pursue legal action before Canada's federal court, describing the decision to bar Thomas Partey from entering the country as "extremely unfair," according to a report by The Athletic.

Partey, 33, was denied entry to Canada ahead of Ghana's opening 2026 FIFA World Cup group-stage match against Panama at Toronto's BMO Field on Wednesday, June 17. The Athletic first reported the development on Friday.

The grounds for refusal

Ghana's government was informed that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made its decision under paragraph A36(1)(c) of Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), which covers inadmissibility on grounds of serious criminality. The Athletic has approached the IRCC for comment.

The relevant clause states that a foreign national is inadmissible if they have committed an act outside Canada that constitutes an offence punishable in Canada by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 10 years.

The government's statement — published on X by foreign minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa — said the ruling is "understood to be based on pending criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom that have not resulted in any conviction or judicial finding of guilt."

Partey's legal situation

The Villarreal midfielder, formerly of Arsenal, was charged by London's Metropolitan Police with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July 2025. He pleaded not guilty in September of that year. Two additional counts of rape were brought against him in February 2026, to which he also entered a not guilty plea in April.

Ghana's response

The government said it is "pursuing active diplomatic engagements," arguing that the "high handed" ruling "raises fundamental questions of fairness and proportionality."

"The Government of Ghana reaffirms the fundamental legal principle of the presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of justice and due process in democratic societies."

Partey travelled with his Ghana team-mates to Washington D.C. on June 4, before the squad moved to their training base in Rhode Island. Ghana's remaining group games are against England at Gillette Stadium in Boston on June 23, and against Croatia at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on June 27.

Should Ghana advance from the group stage as one of the best third-place finishers, they could face a round-of-32 fixture in Vancouver.