Deputy Sports Minister, Acting NSA DG suspended over visa scandal

• Posted on April 13, 2018
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The president has suspended from office the Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Pius Enam Hadzide as well as the Acting Director General of the National Sports Authority Robert Sarfo Mensah.
The suspension which takes immediate effect is in reaction to the visa scandal which has rocked the country in the wake of the Commonwealth games currently underway in Australia.
A statement from the presidency Thursday, and signed by the Director of Communications at the presidency Eugene Arhin says the decision was taken after preliminary investigations into how some 60 persons were arrested for attempting to enter Australia under false pretences in the ongoing 21st Commonwealth games.
The statement further states that Board Chair of the NSA, Kwadwo Baah Agyemang and the Chef-de Maison for the Commonwealth, Mr Mohammed Sahnoon have also been recalled from the games village to assist in investigations.

At least 50 persons who claimed to be journalists and were in Australia to cover the Commonwealth games were arrested and repatriated for bearing false identities.
It is not yet clear how the suspects obtained visas to travel out of the country.
Reports suggest some officials from the National Sports Authority as well as the ministry facilitated the fraudulent visa acquisitions for the 60 persons.
The incident embarrassed the country with the Australian authorities said to be tightening travel arrangements for otherwise genuine Ghanaians who may be travelling to Australia for business and or pleasure.