Ghana formally protests Canada's refusal to issue visa to Thomas Partey

[p]Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, in a statement, said [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana[/a] had problems with [b]"the high-handed and extremely unfair decision"[/b] to reject a visa application by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/thomas/pMErKGnf/"]Partey[/a], [b]"a key member of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana's senior national team[/a]"[/b].[/p][p][b]"Ghana has dispatched an official note of protest"[/b] to Canada, he said, adding that the [b]"note also requested that Canada reviews its unfortunate decision."[/b][/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/villarreal/lUatW5jE/"]Villarreal[/a] midfielder, who previously played for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a], has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022.[/p][p]A trial has been set for next year, allowing the 32-year-old to represent Ghana at the World Cup, but he will not be involved in Wednesday's match in Toronto.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /][p][b]"While respecting Canada's 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,"[/b] said the statement.[/p][p]FIFA has confirmed that Partey would not be able to travel from Ghana's team base camp in Boston to Canada for their opening match [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ghana-nNBjHale/panama-OWKqbCfi/?mid=jD1Nwbif"]against Panama on June 17th[/a].[/p][p]The 32-year-old will be eligible to play in Ghana's subsequent Group L games against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a], both taking place in the United States.[/p]