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The National Paralympic team is traumatised and has been affected by reports suggesting some “members of the team” have absconded upon arrival in Oslo to participate in the just-ended Norway Marathon, president of the Ghana Paralympic Committee, Samson Deen has said.
The National Paralympic Committee of Ghana (NPC-Ghana), has denied rumours that a Ghanaian Paralympic team absconded in Oslo, Norway.
Deen in an interview said the development has affected the team which is preparing for the Paris Olympics.
“The issue is that these guys are known, but unfortunately the wording of the Ghana Paralympic team that was used by the National Security has caused panic among the Paralympic team that is planning and preparing for Paris 2024,” he said.
“And it is really not a good thing, it is not helping us. It has really caused a lot of problems for us because at the moment, we are preparing for the games and these athletes that are going [Paris] have not absconded.”
Deen added “If you see our athletes, most of them have travelled extensively… disabled athletes will not abscond. The two culprits are going to face the law. We have reported the matter to the police, and we know they will bring them to book.”
Background:
The Ministry of National Security confirmed the disappearance in a letter dated 3 July 2024, 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 25 April 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 28 April 2024 and was admitted to Oslo University Hospital. He later passed away on 17 May 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).
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