Ghana Blackstars midfielder Thomas Partey will not be travelling to Canada to join the Black Stars for their international match against Panama after a Canadian court rejected an application that could have cleared the way for his participation.
The decision was delivered on Tuesday June 16, 2026, during a hearing in Ottawa presided over by Justice Lafrenière. Partey was represented by lawyers Mackeda Bramwell and Sangeet Khurana, who sought an expedited process in an effort to secure a favourable ruling before Ghana’s scheduled fixture against Panama.
According to details from the proceedings, the hearing began with objections from the Canadian government over documents submitted by Partey’s legal team. Government lawyers argued that some of the documents had been filed late and did not comply with the established procedures governing the case.
After considering the objections, Justice Lafrenière partially agreed with the government’s position and rejected one of the late affidavits filed on behalf of the Ghanaian midfielder.
The ruling was viewed as a significant setback for Partey’s application, as it limited part of the evidence his legal team hoped to rely on during the hearing.
The court also sought further justification for the urgency of the request. Justice Lafrenière asked Partey’s lawyers to provide examples of previous cases in which similar applications had been fast-tracked and approved under comparable circumstances.
The request stemmed from Ghana’s desire to have the player cleared in time to travel and feature in the national team’s match against Panama.
In their submissions, Partey’s lawyers argued that the player should be presumed innocent, noting that he has pleaded not guilty to charges he is currently facing in the United Kingdom.
They further stressed that he is not subject to any travel restrictions, his passport has not been seized by authorities, and he remains legally free to travel internationally.
The defence team also pointed to Partey’s previous international travel, including trips to the United States for football-related engagements, arguing that there was precedent for allowing him entry into North America despite the ongoing legal proceedings in the UK.
Despite those arguments, the court was ultimately not persuaded to grant the relief being sought. The judge declined the request, effectively preventing Partey from travelling to Canada in time to join the Black Stars for the Panama encounter.
The ruling represents a blow to Ghana’s preparations, with the experienced midfielder expected to miss the fixture. Partey has been a key figure for the national team over the years, and his absence will be felt as the Black Stars continue their international campaign.
While the decision settles his immediate availability for the Panama match, attention is likely to remain focused on the broader legal proceedings involving the Ghana international and how they may affect his future participation in football activities abroad.
SOURCE: NII OKAIJAH TETTEH
