Norway’s Ambassador to Ghana affirms strong ties despite visa scandal

Norway’s Ambassador to Ghana, Ingrid Mollestad, has reassured that the bilateral relationship between Ghana and Norway remains strong, despite being unaware of any recent events that could strain ties. Mollestad emphasized that Ghanaian citizens in Norway are safe and that diplomatic relations between the two nations continue to be “excellent.”

This comes after Ghana’s Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Yusif, sparked concerns of a potential diplomatic rift by criticizing the Norwegian Embassy in Ghana. He accused the Embassy of failing to thoroughly vet the visa applications of a group of Ghanaians who traveled to Norway under the pretense of being Paralympic athletes. Shockingly, nine out of the 11-member team disappeared after arriving in Oslo for the Bergen Marathon earlier this year.

A report from Ghana’s Ministry of National Security addressed to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration revealed that one of the para-athletes, Nana Antwi, has been detained by Norwegian authorities. Additionally, the coach, George Gyamfi Gyasi, tragically passed away shortly after being hospitalized in Oslo on April 28, 2024. The National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, warned that this incident could jeopardize future sports exchanges between Ghana and Norway, urging immediate corrective measures.

In response to the situation, the Norwegian Mission in Ghana reportedly alerted other Schengen countries to possibly apprehend and repatriate the missing para-athletes.

During a recent visit to Ghana by six Nordic foreign ministers, Mollestad reiterated that the diplomatic ties between Ghana and Norway remain intact. She dismissed any knowledge of the recent developments, stating, “I do not know what you are talking about, so I have no comments. I think Ghanaians are safe in Norway and Norwegians are safe in Ghana.”

The visit by the Nordic ministers, who are also scheduled to visit Nigeria, is part of Sweden’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Their discussions will focus on global security, multilateral cooperation, and strengthening trade and investment ties, with key topics including regional security, climate change, and the green transition.