Ghanaian Authorities Crack Down on Fraudulent Athletes

Ghanaian authorities are investigating several individuals who allegedly obtained visas fraudulently to travel to Norway, claiming to be para-athletes and their support staff. The group of 11 individuals was scheduled to run in the Bergen City Marathon on April 26. They reportedly did not register for the race and disappeared.

NPC Ghana’s Statement

The National Paralympic Committee (NPC Ghana) stated that the individuals had no ties to the organization. They accused the group of “impersonation and misrepresentation.” According to NPC Ghana, the group used forged documents to secure their visas from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Accra.

Consequently, NPC Ghana identified two individuals from a disability foundation who allegedly facilitated the fraudulent trip. The committee has therefore banned these individuals from participating in disability sports in Ghana indefinitely. Additionally, they have reported them to the police. However, the two individuals did not respond to requests for comment.

Ministry of Youth and Sports’ Response

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Ghana is collaborating with relevant authorities to investigate the situation. The Ministry has pledged to impose necessary sanctions on anyone found responsible. Nevertheless, they stressed that this incident does not reflect the dedication and integrity of the entire sports community in Ghana.

Furthermore, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ghana and Norway’s National Police Immigration Service both declined to comment on the case due to confidentiality policies. NPC Ghana has assured the public that security agencies are actively investigating the matter, and the committee remains committed to resolving the issue.

Impact on Future Participation

Importantly, NPC Ghana has confirmed that this incident will not impact Ghanaian para-athletes and officials participating in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The committee reassured the public that licensed athletes and official volunteers did not participate in the fraudulent activities.

The committee assured that no licensed athletes or official volunteers were involved in the fraudulent activities. Moreover, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has urged embassies and consulates to carefully verify visa applications for sporting events to prevent similar issues in the future.