Sports Minister Mustapha Yusif has criticized the Norwegian Embassy in Ghana for its lack of thoroughness in vetting the visa applications of Ghanaians who entered Norway under the pretense of being Paralympic athletes.

This issue came to light after reports revealed that nine out of eleven members of a Ghanaian Para-athlete team went missing upon arriving in Oslo for the Bergen Marathon this year.

The Ministry of National Security has issued a statement to both the Sports Ministry and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. The statement notes that one athlete, Nana Antwi, has been detained by Norwegian authorities, and the team's coach, George Gyamfi Gyasi, passed away shortly after being admitted to Oslo University Hospital on April 28, 2024.

The National Paralympic Committee has already suspended three individuals implicated in the incident. Meanwhile, the Minority is demanding an investigation. North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has pointed out that the team did not register for the marathon, suggesting their visit had ulterior motives.

Ablakwa has criticized the Norwegian diplomatic staff, questioning how such an oversight could happen, and hinted at possible misconduct or lack of proper protocol.

In response to queries about his responsibility, Mustapha Yusif stated that the Norwegian authorities failed to verify the athletes' legitimacy with the ministry before issuing the visas, thus he does not accept responsibility for the scandal.

Samson Deen, President of the National Paralympic Committee, has claimed that his signature was forged in the visa applications. He asserts that the committee did not authorize these individuals and that fraudulent documents were used to secure their visas.