Sports Personality nominee threatens to commit suicide

Ghana’s Weightlifter Juliana Arko, has threatened to commit suicide if officials at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing China fail to pay her per diems.

Arko, who was nominated for the 2013 Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Sports Personality of the Year said she had not been paid anything for the past three years that she participates for Ghana.

She has in recent times been the nation’s weightlifting sensation and was among Ghana’s representatives at the Nanjing Games.

The 17 year old Weightlifter who attends Accra Poly reported officials of Ghana to the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over unpaid per diems and threatened to commit suicide.

Juliana Arko had over the years being denied per diems after several competitions and was entertaining similar fears at the Games hence the threat.

The 2013 Weightlifter of the year has given officials up to August 25 to pay up, or she will carry out her threat.

Mr. Arko Dadzie, Chef D’ Mission of Ghana at the Games, said the incident was very unfortunate and they referred the matter to the GOC and the Ministry of Youth and Sports who have to pay the per diem.

He said the weightlifter was put on observation as the IOC has directed that the issue should be handled internally.

Mr. Arko hinted that they have written to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Sports Authority and the Ghana Olympic Committee to facilitate the per diem for athletes.