Sports Minister, Mustapha Yusif has criticised the Norwegian Embassy in Ghana for failing to ensure due diligence in the application process for some Ghanaians who entered Norway under the guise of being Paralympic athletes.
This 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 Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, one para-athlete, Nana Antwi, has been detained by Norwegian authorities, while 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.
The National Paralympic Committee has already suspended three individuals accused of masterminding the incident.
However, the Minority is calling for a probe into the incident. North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa insists the team did not even register for the event, indicating they had no intention of participating in the marathon.
He added that for the team to be able to break protocols and bypass institutions suggests there is more to the incident than meets the eye.
“Diplomatic envoys or foreign service staff have questions to answer. They did not even register for the game. They had no intention to participate in the game,” he said.
Responding to a question at a news conference in Accra about whether or not he takes responsibility for the latest scandal, Mustapha Yussif indicated that “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.”
President of the National Paralympic Committee, Samson Deen claims his signature was forged.
“We engaged, we checked and we realised 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.
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