Time to curb fraud in Sports

… After deaf men hearing saga

Says Prince Dornu-Leiku

The news that Ghana had sent hearing men to an international tournament meant for the deaf (hearing impaired) in Australia broke out over the last month. That many of the members of the so-called Ghanaian Deaf team that travelled and took part in the game also absconded is another testimony of the fraud and intent that was hatched right from day one.

According to Deaf Football Australia, they received a request from Ghana for a match between the two countries way back in November last year. Though the National Sports Council (NSC) denies any knowledge of even the subsequent trip to battle in the name of Ghana, arrangements were therefore made for a date in July which has since been duly honoured.

Unknowingly, a Sports development Officer at the NSC, James Armah, had masterminded the trip with some accomplices to secure visas for desperate travellers. Allegations indicate that 4,000 US Dollars was paid by over 25 people in order to secure visas on the ticket of the NSC, all under the auspices of Mr. Armah. The whole issue came to light after the Australians found out during the match that some of Ghana’s players could in fact hear. The hosts and organisers subsequently threatened to drag the Association of Sports for the Disabled of Ghana (ASBOD) to the International Sports Confederation for the Disabled (ISCD) for sanctions. The Australian authorities were angry that Ghana could send hearing players for an international game meant for the deaf and demanded a refund of 14,789 US Dollars spent on hosting the Ghanaian team.

Both the Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) and ASBOG came out to deny any involvement confirming that 12 deaf persons who were to actually participate in the event failed to make the trip and are all currently in the country, revealing that even their passports were yet to be released to them. Jonathan Michael Amuah, Vice President of Confederation of African Deaf Sports and Godfred Baffoe, captain of the Deaf football team (Black Wonders) also added that it is not the first time that people with disabilities have been used as bait for fraud.

The GFD comprising Ghana Association of the Blind, Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled, Share Care Ghana, Parents' Association of Children with Intellectual Disability, Society of Albinos, Ghana and ASBOG have therefore urged for thorough investigations and the culprits punished. "Over the past years, disabled sportsmen and sportswomen have faced exploitation through visa racketeering and human trafficking activities by people purporting to work for the National Sports Council," stated Rita Kyeremaa Kusi, Executive Director of the GFD in a press conference. Well if the allegations are proven to be true, then there is no doubt that a heinous crime has not only been committed, it is also one that brings to the nation disgrace on a global scale. It is good news that the said James Armah who also doubles as General Secretary of ASBOG has since been arrested and is helping the Police to identify other culprits as a search is also underway to haunt down those who made the trip and have absconded in Australia. NSC CEO Worlanyo Agrah says he has also written to all embassies in Accra to disregard any letter from the NSC that does not bear his signature.

But the big question that needs answering is if that is all that can be done. Will Armah be made a scapegoat, jailed then the entire issue is swept under the carpet? Officials of the NSC have access to so many signatures of the CEO, so can’t another desperate one also transcript a fake one on another letter to embassies? What of those who benefit from these frauds themselves, are they left to enjoy their booties?

No, that should not be the end because we must stand up as a nation and fight the menace in Sports especially but a situation that indeed is a daily occurrence in all the Ministries. I am personally very well-placed to comment on the issue of visa fraud because I worked as a Protocol Officer at one of the Ministries for my National Service. And it is plain activity, the acquisition of visas for private citizens in the name of these ministries by officials mandated to work on such ventures for government officials. Per diems and other travelling allowances are often over-bloated and siphoned off the hardworking taxpayer. The fees these individuals earn for committing these frauds are staggering creating for them immense wealth which they continue to pile up as long as they continue to work. It is for the same reason that these individuals never think about quitting their posts even when their retirement is due. These corrupt and selfish officials and their stay in office prevents the emergence of younger, vibrant and more educated persons to take over and contribute to the nation’s growth and development. Certainly, such people must be swept off the system if this country is to emerge from our current poor economic conditions.

Sport is one sector which entails lots of people involved in various disciplines with their attendant many programmes and travels across the world. The variety of divisions within Sports means travelling outside Ghana for their competitions are almost a daily occurrence for which reason works on their visa acquisitions are almost uncountable. So fraud, corruption, falsehood and pilfering can certainly not be discounted especially as it is one sector which’s Ministry has often witnessed scandals and seen heads roll than any other.

Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, E T Mensah served as Minister of Sports for nearly eight years during the 1990s and his remain a standard that it seems will take ages to be beaten. After him, many a Minister to take an appointment in that Ministry has often lasted a very short time, the latest being Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak. The MP for Asawaase lasted barely three months in office when he was booted out over allegations of corruption, misappropriation of funds and including visa fraud. Muntaka denies many of these allegations maintaining that he was set up by corrupt officials of the Ministry and certain sporting associations who had seen him as a threat to their corrupt and nefarious activities. As recently as a fortnight ago, Muntaka again blasted a wing of Sports claiming that many officials of the Ghana Football Association are thieves who continue to enrich themselves at the expense of the nation. Well, Mr. Muntaka is not the first to make such allegations if we don’t forget too soon a certain Mallam Ali Yusuf Issa. Mallam Issa took office as the first Minister of Sports under the NPP government but got himself thrown into jail within weeks of taking office over a loss of $46,000 meant for official work. Till this day, Mr. Issa maintains that his downfall was a machination of certain officials at the Sports Ministry who felt threatened by his non-corrupt approach to duty. Many others have come and gone out of that Ministry with endless tales of corruption allegations and apparent existence of ‘mafias’ who do anything to maintain the status quo.

And as the saying goes, there should be an element of truth in every rumour, a rumour which especially has been trumpeted by many in various media over several years. The GFA may be the most famously spoken of in this regard but that may even be just the tip of the iceberg because of the popularity and patronage of football. But go under, observe and investigate the activities of many other sporting disciplines and we could all be shocked by the discoveries to be made. In the midst of the recent deaf men hearing saga came the news that the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) also misled the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) into believing the GAA held its Congress in 2006 to merit grant from the global body. An apparent communiqué sent to the IAAF by then GAA Chairman Sandy Osei-Agyeman claimed the Association's constitution had been approved on February 15, 2006 at a Congress that never took place. The communiqué which included the supposed approved constitution was meant to qualify the country for an annual grant from the IAAF. With the IAAF convinced by the "documentary" evidence, Ghana has received unspecified grants for the past three years. Is this not fraud?

The same GAA also owes two European-based Sports firms a total of 29,304.95 US Dollars for camping and training of athletes towards the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The same Mr. Osei-Agyeman has again confessed that indeed German outfit Athletes First Sports Management is owed the tune of 26,819.95 US Dollars and Den Haag Athletics Club of Holland $2,485 and that both parties have variously threatened the GAA.

Andre Thompson of Athletes First Sport Management particularly has soiled the nation’s reputation at the German Embassy in Accra with his consistent reminders despite the offsetting of $6,600 of the initial bill. "As you may be aware, Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) has been blacklisted at the German Embassy and with the impending World Championship Games in August, 2009, it is imperative that we settle the bill to avoid any embarrassment for GAA and our country," Osei-Agyeman who left office earlier this year, had noted in his handing over report copied to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Chairman of GAA and Secretary General of GAA. There can be no doubt whatsoever that fraud and corruption are heavily impeded in sports in this country. And singling out politicians who serve as Ministers for all problems in the sector cannot help us. That is why we must advise President Atta Mills not to forgo on his pledge to order a thorough investigation into that Ministry. We also hope the President has got ears for the recent expression of concern on crisis affecting sports development by the Minority caucus in Parliament. They noted that the recent wrangling at the Ghana Olympic Committee and Ghana Athletics Association among others have darkened Ghana's reputation at the international level, and have thus called on Government to act quickly to save Ghana sports.

It is relevant that political meanings are not construed into these views of the Minority but seriously weighed and acted upon for the good of the nation. "National Associations must adopt statutes which shall contain provisions on qualifications and eligibility to hold office, election into office and removal from office of officers, tenure of officers, good corporate governance and financial management of the Associations," said by Hon. Isaac Asiamah, Ranking member for Youth, Culture and Sports certainly is no bad opinion.

Sports breaches barriers of unity and most importantly creates variety of employment opportunities, wealth, social and economic development among many plusses. It therefore must be a sector safeguarded and cleaned of corruption and fraud so as we can harness the many opportunities it offers us on a worldwide level. Aversion to fraud and corruption will ultimately lead to equal opportunities for all and that the right people earn what they deserve. It means that sports persons and athletes presented by the nation at international competitions will be truly deserved ones who will in turn compete to their best abilities and earn the right rewards.

No more should hearing persons compete in place of the real Black Wonders team, same way the right players will feature for the Black Stars or any other national football or Sports team for that matter. We have to agree on this that the time is ripe for us to work as a nation to combat fraud in Sports right away.