Visa Scandal: Blame us; we were not smart – Ghana Olympics Committee

The Ghana Olympics Committee (GOC) says they are to be blamed for the visa fraud scandal that has rocked Ghana’s representation at the ongoing 2018 Commonwealth Games.

President Akufo-Addo on Thursday suspended Deputy Sports Minister, Pious Enam Hadzide following the deportation of some 70 Ghanaians from the Gold Coast 2018 Games for some visa offenses.

The President also announced the suspension of the National Sports Authority Boss, Robert Safo-Mensah and recalled three officials from the ongoing games, namely the Ghana Olympic Committee(GOC)President, Ben Nunoo-Mensah, National Sports Authority Board Chair, Kwadwo Baah-Agyemang and the Chef-de-Mason for the games.

But the GOC’s Director of Communications, Charles Osei Assibey told Accra-based Citi FM that they failed to keep attention on the visa process, hence the murky issues emerging from the Games.

“We lost sight of what we were doing. And as for that one person, I think the blame for losing sight or not keeping an eye on what we were doing should be laid at the doorstep of the GOC. We admit that we were not smart at that.”

Meanwhile, he prayed Corporate Ghana not to withdraw their sponsorship for Team Ghana saying that will kill sports in the country.