The Sports Ministry has therefore distanced itself from the recent visa scandal and the individuals involved.

According to him, until investigations are completed and it is confirmed that the individuals are indeed para-athletes, he cannot take responsibility for them.

This comes after reports that nine out of an 11-member team of Ghanaian para-athletes went missing upon their arrival in Oslo for the Bergen Marathon.

According to a statement from the Ministry of National Security, one para-athlete, Nana Antwi, has been detained by Norwegian authorities, while the coach of the ‘team’, George Gyamfi Gyasi, met his untimely death shortly after being admitted to the Oslo University Hospital after collapsing on April 28, 2024.

But at a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Ussif indicated the Ministry and all relevant stakeholders were not aware of the team’s participation in the tournament.

He explained that, whenever there is an international tournament, there are due processes that are followed to facilitate the issuance and acquisition of visas.

However, that was not the case for these 11 individuals, who claimed to be Paralympics.

“The Ministry was not aware and the team did not represent Ghana. The federation normally makes visa requests through the National Sports Authority and the Sports Ministry writes letters to the Foreign Affairs Ministry for the needed assistance.

“But in this case, there was no request or due process and were concerned because the group claims to be athletes,” he stated.

The Minister said he is actively working with relevant authorities to investigate the issue.

Mr Ussif further cautioned unscrupulous people who are taking advantage of athletes under the pretext of assisting them.

Meanwhile, the National Paralympic Committee has suspended three individuals who are being accused of masterminding the incident.

The Minority members of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee are demanding an immediate inquiry into the visa scandal.

According to the letter, which was copied to the Youth and Sports Minister and the Foreign Minister, the supposed ‘team’ had obtained visas from the Norwegian Embassy in Accra to participate in the Fjordkraft Bergen City Marathon in Oslo on 27 April this year.

The letter further indicates that, the supposed team of athletes arrived in Oslo on 25 April 2024 for the marathon.

However, it was discovered that the 11-member team failed to register for the competition, which was to be held two days after their arrival.

Subsequently, Nana Antwi, a member of the team, was arrested a day after their arrival for attempting to depart Norway for Sweden on a one-way train ticket.

The coach of this ‘team’, George Gyamfi Gyasi, met his untimely death shortly after being admitted to the Oslo University Hospital (ULEVAL) after he collapsed on 28 April 2024.

The other nine are currently on the run.

As a result of this scandal, all Western Diplomatic Missions in Accra, as well as the European Border Coast Guard agency, have been alerted by the Norwegian Embassy in Accra to repatriate and apprehend the said team members.

The National Security Minister has also indicated that the incident has the potential to affect the chances of Ghanaian national teams who require visas to travel for future competitions.

In an exclusive chat on the Joy Sports Link on Joy FM, Mr Samson Deen, who is in charge of Ghana’s Paralympic Committee, stated that he has never signed a letter seeking visa assistance from the Norwegian Embassy.

“I have to put it on record that the Ghana Paralympic Committee has not sent anybody or sent a letter to apply for a visa,” Mr Deen told the host of the Joy Sports Link, Nathaniel Attoh.

According to Mr Deen, who is also President of the African Paralympic Committee (APC), the persons involved forged his signature after they were initially denied visas for the said event.

“Upon our checks of receiving this letter from the Ministry of Sports, we checked and realised that the letter was forged. Upon reaching out to them [Theodore Mawuli Viwotor, former Secretary general of the Ghana Paralympic Football Association, and Ernest Ayisi, founder of Ernestay Foundation] and asking how they got my signature, they indicated that one Adongo, who is nowhere to be found in Ghana now and based in Europe, is the one who forged my letter and all the signatures.

“They forged my signature on the letter and applied for visas for some people who have no affiliation with the Ghana Paralympic Team.

“For this matter, the two remaining individuals have been suspended from anything that has to do with Paralympic Sports in the country.”

He further revealed to Joy Sports that he has reported the matter to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations.

“We have written to the Ghana Police Service for further investigation into this matter. The Ghana Paralympic Committee has no association with this particular issue,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the National Paralympic Committee of Ghana has indefinitely suspended Mr Theodore Mawuli Viwotor, Mr Yaw Ayisi, and the Ernestay Foundation for their involvement in the incident.

A letter to the three indicates that the punishment has been handed to them as a result of their alleged roles in the falsification of NPC letterheads, and forging the NPC Ghana President’s signature and stamp.

For now, it’s unclear the whereabouts of the remaining nine persons who made up this ‘National team.’

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