One dead, 9 on the run as Ghana Paralympic team absconds in Norway

The National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah has revealed that nine members of a ‘paralympic team’ from Ghana who participated in a sporting event in Norway have gone AWOL.

In a letter copied to the Minister of Youth and Sports, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the supposed ‘team’ had obtained visas from the Norwegian Embassy in Accra to participate in the Fjordkraft Bergen City Marathon in Oslo on April 27, 2014.

The letter indicated that the supposed team of athletes arrived in Oslo on April 25, 2024, for the marathon.

However, it was discovered that the 11-member team failed to register for the competition, which was to be held two days after their arrival.

Nana Antwi, a member of the team, was arrested a day after their arrival for attempting to depart Norway for Sweden on a one-way train ticket.

The coach of this ‘team’, George Gyamfi Gyasi, met his untimely death shortly after being admitted to the Oslo University Hospital (ULEVAL) following his collapse on April 28, 2024.

The other nine are currently on the run.

As a result of this scandal, all Western Diplomatic Missions in Accra, as well as the European Border Coast Guard agency, have been alerted by the Norwegian Embassy in Accra to apprehend and repatriate the said team members.

The National Security Minister has also indicated that the incident has the potential to affect the chances of Ghanaian national teams who require visas to travel for future competitions.