‘Stop discussing visa scandal, it’s hurting us’ – Samson Deen tells media

The President of the African Paralympic Committee, Samson Deen, has urged the media to desist from publicly discussing the 2026 World Cup visa scandal, warning that it is damaging Ghana’s reputation internationally.

According to him, his involvement in international sports has exposed him to the reputational damage Ghana is suffering, as the controversy could create difficulties for teams seeking to participate in international tournaments.

He disclosed that some of his friends in other countries had been asking him about the issue and expressed shock that Ghana was experiencing such challenges. He therefore urged the media to stop discussing the scandal publicly.

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“So I will urge you, the media; I will appeal to your conscience to please let us stop discussing these things that happen in the World Cup. It is hurting some of us, truly speaking.

"I have to tell you, because some of us have that climate of international sports where we participate in international engagement in sports, and the news they read is also dirty, that sometimes you are there and somebody is asking you, a country that you are even better than them is asking you questions about what is happening in Ghana that they so much respect,” he told the media.

Samson Deen warned that making such issues public instead of resolving them privately could have serious consequences for Ghanaian sports in the future. He therefore appealed for a more constructive approach to handling the matter.

“Let me appeal to you: we are not 100% as sports administrators, and if issues come and we don't find a way to discuss them behind the cameras, but if we decide to do it as we are doing, our sports will be destroyed. Many parents will not encourage their children to participate in sports. Please, my colleague journalists, friends, please let's try as much as we can to promote the sport. Negativity will not help us,” he said.

Watch the video below

‘Stop discussing visa scandal, it’s hurting us’ – Samson Deen tells media

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— GhanaWeb (@TheGhanaWeb) October 16, 2026