Lawyer Amanda Clinton has advised the government to appeal to absconded Oslo Para athletes to come back home and face lesser sentences. This was among a list of recommendations she mentioned in a conversation with The Accra Times.
“National Security should manage the optics of this by notifying the embassy in question that they have put the suspects on Interpol watch lists as well as implemented relevant international flags. They should also publicly appeal to the individuals directly to return home in order to face a lesser sentence for surrendering and pleading guilty to charges. These charges could include defrauding by false pretenses + immigration charges including falsifying documents in order to obtain a visa to put in a Ghanaian passport,” she said.
The former Football Association presidential aspirant has also recommended that the President sends a letter to all missions assuring them that this is an isolated incident and that documents were forged and insist on the fact that the said individuals are not related to the Ghana Paralympic Team.
While agreeing this incident doesn’t reflect the integrity of the Sports Ministry, she is urging the president to pursue cooperation with the foreign missions in resolving the issue and preventing a recurrence in the future.
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“I would recommend he also asks them to partner with Ghana in fighting such isolated incidents in future by writing to his ministers to confirm the veracity of such documents any time their visa section is presented with a government-issued document”, she said.
Days ago, a leaked National Security document revealed that aspiring Ghanaian para-athletes went missing in Oslo in April, prompting demands for a thorough investigation and prosecution.
Experts warn that this recurring issue is tarnishing Ghana’s reputation and may lead to increased scrutiny and travel difficulties for genuine athletes representing the country in the future.
Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister, Mustapha Yusif on Tuesday condemned the Norwegian Embassy for its lax vetting process, allowing some individuals to falsely pose as Paralympic athletes and travel to Norway. The ministry has denied having any connection with the absconded team.
