'Ghanaian paralympic team' absconds after ditching Oslo marathon

A team of Ghanaian paralympic athletes and technical officials are said to have absconded to other Schengen states in Europe after failing to participate in the Fjordkraft Bergren Marathon in Oslo, Norway. 

The Ministry of National Security confirmed the disappearance in a letter dated July 3, addressed to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

The 11-member team comprising a head coach, welfare officer, equipment manager, trainer, masseur and six paralympic athletes arrived in Oslo on April 25, 2024, to compete in the marathon but did not show up for the event. 

Subsequently, a search operation was launched, resulting in the apprehension of one of the paralympic athletes, Nana Antwi, who was caught attempting to travel from Norway to Sweden by train.

In a related incident, the team's head coach, George Gyasi Gyamfi, collapsed on April 28, 2024, and was admitted to Oslo University Hospital. He later passed away on May 17, 2024.

The remaining team members unaccounted for are; Amanda Mireku (welfare officer), Felicia Animah Mensah (Equipment Manager), Mathias Essien (athlete), Emmanuel A. Erigotoya Atanga (athlete), Patrick Arhin (trainer), Godwin Obiri (athlete), Scotches Ofori (athlete), Sylvester Andoh (masseur) and Yunusah Ali Kadiri (athlete.) 

The European Border Control Coast Guard Agency and the Norwegian Embassy in Accra have been notified and are working to locate the missing athletes.

Amidst the unfolding situation, Samson Deen, President of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Ghana, has denied authorizing any para-athletes to travel to Norway. Deen addressed the controversy, emphasizing that his signature was forged in the visa application process.

"We want to make it clear that the Ghana Paralympic Team did not apply for visas, nor did the NPC-Ghana. The letters circulating with my signature are forged," Deen stated.

Deen also appealed to the public, disassociating the NPC-Ghana and the legitimate Ghanaian Paralympic athletes from those purportedly involved in the incident.

Efforts to locate the remaining athletes continue, with Norwegian authorities and Ghanaian officials collaborating on the search.