Sports

Sports Minister Criticizes Norwegian Embassy Over Visa Scandal Involving Fake Ghanaian Para-Athletes

Amazon Store

Ghana’s Sports Minister, Mustapha Yusif, has criticized the Norwegian Embassy in Ghana for not exercising due diligence in the visa application process for a group of Ghanaians posing as Paralympic athletes. This criticism follows reports that nine out of an 11-member team of Ghanaian para-athletes went missing upon their arrival in Oslo for the Bergen Marathon this year.

According to a statement from the Ministry of National Security, addressed to the Sports Ministry and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, one para-athlete, Nana Antwi, has been detained by Norwegian authorities. Additionally, the coach of the team, George Gyamfi Gyasi, passed away shortly after being admitted to Oslo University Hospital following his collapse on April 28, 2024.

In response to the scandal, the National Paralympic Committee has suspended three individuals accused of orchestrating the incident. However, the Minority in Parliament is calling for a thorough investigation. North Tongu MP Samuel OkudzetoAblakwa noted that the team did not register for the marathon, suggesting they had no intention of participating in the event. He added that the ease with which the team bypassed protocols indicates a deeper issue.

At a news conference in Accra, Mustapha Yusif addressed questions regarding his responsibility for the scandal. He stated, “The Norwegian authority which issued the visas to the athletes didn’t see it prudent to even verify from the ministry to see whether these are genuine athletes or not. So to your question whether I take responsibility, I’m sorry I can’t.”

Samson Deen, President of the National Paralympic Committee, also weighed in, claiming his signature was forged. “We engaged, we checked, and we realized that the letter was written, they forged my signature, forged my letter, and applied for visas for some people who are not athletes,” he said.

Source: sankofaonline.com

Comments are closed.