Sports Minister Addresses Critics: Norwegian Embassy Lacked Prudence in Visa Scandal, Responsibility Not on Me.

Sports Minister Blames Norwegian Embassy for Visa Scandal, Declines Responsibility

Sports Minister Mustapha Yusif has criticized the Norwegian Embassy in Ghana for inadequate scrutiny in the visa application process for Ghanaian travelers who falsely claimed to be Paralympic athletes. This criticism follows the revelation that nine out of eleven Ghanaian Para-athletes went missing upon their arrival in Oslo for the Bergen Marathon.

A Ministry of National Security statement revealed that one of the athletes, Nana Antwi, is currently detained by Norwegian authorities. Additionally, George Gyamfi Gyasi, the coach of the team, died shortly after being admitted to Oslo University Hospital following a collapse on April 28, 2024.

In response to the incident, the National Paralympic Committee has suspended three individuals implicated in orchestrating the scam. Despite this, calls for a thorough investigation have been made by the Minority. North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has questioned why the team, which did not register for the event, was allowed to bypass regulations and institutions.

Ablakwa stated, “The team did not register for the marathon and had no intention of participating. Their ability to circumvent protocols suggests there is more to this situation.”

At a recent press conference in Accra, Mustapha Yusif was asked about his role in the scandal. He responded, “The Norwegian authorities who issued the visas did not think it necessary to verify with our ministry whether these individuals were genuine athletes. Therefore, I cannot take responsibility for this issue.”

Samson Deen, President of the National Paralympic Committee, claimed that his signature was forged. “We discovered that my signature and letter were forged in the visa application process. These individuals were not athletes,” he said.