Ghana’s sports community was shaken this week by revelations that an 11-member team of alleged para-athletes traveled to Norway under false pretenses, claiming they were participating in the Fjordkraft Bergen City Marathon, only to abscond upon arrival in Oslo.

The scandal came to light through a letter from National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah on July 3, addressed to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and Youth and Sports. The letter revealed that the supposed para-athletes disappeared to other Schengen states after arriving in Norway on April 25.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Paralympic Committee-Ghana quickly distanced themselves from the incident. Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif denied any involvement in facilitating the group’s trip, labeling them a “fake team,” and criticized the Norwegian Embassy in Accra for failing to verify the team’s authenticity.

“The Norwegian authority which issued the visas to the athletes didn’t see it prudent to even verify from the ministry to see whether they were genuine athletes or not. So, to your question whether I take responsibility, I’m sorry I can’t,” Minister Ussif stated at a news conference.

Further complicating the situation, National Paralympic Committee-Ghana President Samson Deen revealed that two officials within the Paralympic Movement in Ghana were complicit in forging his signature and documents to secure visas for the team.

“We engaged, we checked, and we realized that the letter was written. They forged my signature, forged my letter, and applied for visas for some people who are not athletes,” Deen disclosed.

This scandal reveals a calculated fraud, particularly as the group did not register for the marathon. In response, the National Paralympic Committee-Ghana suspended Theodore Mawuli Viwotor and Ernest Yaw Ayisi of the Ernestay Foundation from all para-sports activities in Ghana and abroad.

Despite the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Paralympic Committee-Ghana denying involvement, there is a pressing need for thorough investigations to uncover the truth. This incident is part of a broader pattern of systemic fraud and mismanagement within Ghana’s sports sector.

Previous scandals, such as the 2009 incident where 25 able-bodied individuals posed as deaf footballers to attend a tournament in Australia, and more recent controversies like the 2018 Commonwealth Games visa scandal, underscore a persistent issue of deceit and negligence.

Recent years have seen additional scandals, such as the Anas Aremeyaw Anas-led Tiger Eye PI sting operation into football administration corruption, the 2018 Commonwealth Games visa scandal, and a case of impersonation involving unregistered players of Real Tamale United in their Ghana Premier League clash with Dreams FC. These incidents highlight a lack of integrity in Ghana’s sports and underscore the urgent need for authorities to address these issues decisively.

A lack of political will and decisive action by state agencies has fostered a culture of impunity, allowing fraudulent individuals to exploit the system without fear of repercussions.

The government’s response to such scandals has often been inadequate, with investigations leading to little or no significant legal action against culprits.

The unresolved 2018 Commonwealth Games visa scandal exemplifies this failure, with no substantial legal consequences for those involved. This lack of accountability has emboldened fraudsters, leading to repeated scandals that undermine the integrity of Ghanaian sports.

In response to the latest scandal, the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has urged the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to institute a bipartisan parliamentary probe into the incident involving fake para-athletes in Norway.

SWAG emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth and ensure that the perpetrators face legal consequences. This action would serve as a deterrent to potential fraudsters and help restore faith in Ghana’s sports institutions.

The latest scandal is a call to action for all stakeholders in Ghanaian sports to commit to transparency, integrity, and accountability.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports and other relevant bodies must initiate comprehensive reforms in sports management and oversight to prevent future fraudulent activities.

Ghanaian sports, a source of national pride and unity, stand at a crossroads. These scandals highlight the urgent need for decisive action to restore integrity and faith in the nation’s sporting entities.

The future of Ghanaian sports depends on the commitment of leaders and stakeholders to uphold honesty and fairness, ensuring that the country’s athletes can compete on the global stage without the shadow of fraud and mismanagement.