Akufo-Addo lauded for suspending Deputy Sports Minister

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s action on issues relating to Ghana’s participation in the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Australia is commendable, Professor Kwaku Asare, a United States-based Ghanaian Professor, has said.

Mr Akufo-Addo on Thursday 12 April 2018 suspended from office with immediate effect the Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Pious Enam Hadzide and the Acting Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) Robert Sarfo Mensah.

The two were suspended following preliminary investigations conducted into the circumstances that led to the arrest of some 60 Ghanaians who had allegedly attempted to enter Australia by false pretences in the ongoing 21st Commonwealth Games, a statement from the presidency explained.

The president of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Mr Ben Nunoo Mensah, the Board Chairman of the NSA Kwadwo Baah Agyemang and the chef-de-maison for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Mr Mohammed Shanoon have also being recalled from the games to assist in investigations currently being undertaken by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police service.

Commenting on this development on his Facebook page minutes after the suspension, Prof Asare stated that: “The President's swift action on the Aussie-60 is very commendable.”