An expert in international relations, Dr. Ishmael Hlovor, has pointed out that Sports Minister Mustapha Yusif bears some responsibility for the recent failures within the ministry’s structures. Dr. Hlovor suggested that if the systems within the ministry were without loopholes, they would have been able to detect and prevent the irregularities that occurred.
The criticism comes in the wake of reports that nine out of eleven Ghanaian Para-athletes went missing upon their arrival in Oslo for the Bergen Marathon. Minister Yusif publicly chastised the Norwegian Embassy in Ghana for the lapses in the application process that allowed some individuals to enter Norway under the pretense of being Paralympic athletes.
However, Dr. Hlovor emphasized that blame should not be solely placed on the Norwegian Embassy, as every institution involved, including the Ministry of Sports, had failed to fulfill their respective duties. He highlighted that there were significant loopholes in some federations that allowed such incidents to occur.
Ranking Member on Parliament’s Sports Committee, Wisdom Kobena Woyome, stressed the need for transparency in addressing the situation to restore Ghana’s tarnished image. He emphasized the importance of an open and transparent process to ensure accountability and prevent future occurrences.
As the fallout from the visa scandal continues, it is clear that all parties involved must take responsibility and work towards improving the integrity and effectiveness of their respective institutions to prevent similar incidents in the future.
