Norway Scandal: Controversy will further damage reputation of Sports Ministry- Nii Lante Vanderpuye

Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, says the reputation of the Sports Ministry will take further hits following the Norway Scandal. He said this in an interview on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News.

A group of individuals who reportedly posed as para-athletes to represent Ghana at the Bergren Marathon in Norway absconded and this was captured in a letter from the Ministry of National Security to the Sports Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif addressed the issue in his briefing with the media among other pertinent issues and stated that he doesn’t take responsibility for the Norway Scandal.

National Paralympic Committee-Ghana President, Samson Deen, has since announced that his signature was forged on the letter used by the individuals to process the visas. Nii Lante Vanderpuye believes the latest incident will further damage the Sports Ministry’s reputation.

“I’m sure that what has happened is going to further damage the reputation of our sports federations and our Olympic Committee and our National Sports Authority and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. I’m sure that the embassy that will be handling the accreditation for the Paralympic Games will be cautious enough from the way the Minister and the Ministry is blaming them now, they will be cautious enough now to do a thorough and due diligence on every application for an accreditation to attend the Paralympic Games.”

This year’s Paralympic Games in Paris take place from August 28 to September 8.