The founder of the Ernestay Foundation, Ernest Ayisi, has firmly denied forging the signature of National Paralympic Committee President, Samson Deen for a Paralympic visa to Norway.
On July 3, 2024, the Ministry of National Security disclosed that nine members of a purported Paralympic team fled after being accused of impersonation.
11 athletes who obtained visas from the Norwegian Embassy in Accra to compete in the Fjordkraft Bergen City Marathon in Oslo on April 27 this year.
One team member, Nana Antwi, was apprehended while trying to leave Norway for Sweden with a one-way train ticket, while coach George Gyamfi Gyasi collapsed and later died at Oslo University Hospital.
In an interview with Joy Sports over the weekend, Mr Deen denied having signed a request for visa assistance from the Norwegian Embassy for the event.
He said Theodore Mawuli Viwotor, former Secretary General of the Ghana Paralympic Football Association, and Ernest Ayisi are behind the forgery.
In response to these allegations on Asempa FM‘s Ultimate Sports Show, Ayisi stated, “They [Norwegian Embassy in Accra] refused [for a visa]. They demanded a higher letter for the visa to be granted.
“Atongo [a member of the team] said he could get a letter [from NPC], which I did not see until they were about to travel.
“Deen [President of NPC] called me and Theo [former Secretary General of the Ghana Paralympic Football Association] on a conference call where we explained what happened and that Atongo had travelled with the team.
“My name is not on the list. I would have included my family if I wanted them to abscond. How can I forge a signature? I am illiterate. I explained to Deen, but he is adamant. The letter was from his office. Are people not working there? So why is he saying I have forged his signature?
“Ghanaians, I haven’t done it. Samson Deen, I did not do it,” he added.
The National Paralympic Committee has suspended Theodore Mawuli Viwotor, Yaw Ayisi, and the Ernestay Foundation pending further investigation into their alleged involvement in the incident.
