Dep.Sports Minister, NSA boss suspended over fake journalists scandal

The Deputy Minister of sports Pius Enam Hadzide; and the acting Director General of the National Sports Authority, Hon. Robert Sarfo Mensah have both been suspended by President Akufo-Addo.

The pair have been suspended amid preliminary investigations conducted into the circumstances that led to the arrest of some sixty (60) Ghanaians, who had allegedly attempted to enter Australia by false pretences, in the on-going 21st Commonwealth Games.

The President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Mr Ben Nunoo Mensah; the Board Chairman of the National Sports Authority, Hon. Kwadwo Baah Agyeman; and the Chef-de-Maison for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Mr Mohammed Sahnoon, have also been recalled from the Games to assist in investigations currently being undertaken by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Police Service.

 

 

Background

Over 50 Ghanaians who traveled to Australia for the upcoming Commonwealth games which starts Wednesday, April 4, 2018 have been deported.

Australian Authorities have explained the deportation is because they are not convinced by the reasons given by the Ghanaians who claim to be journalists.

Read also:GJA unaware of identities of 50 deported 'journalists'

Even though the deportees had genuine visas, many didn’t carry equipment like recorders and recommended mobile phones for media coverage, hence raising suspicion
Deputy Sports Minister, Pious Enam Hadidze in an interview with Starr FM said Australian authorities are not sure the Ghanaians will return after the games.

“The explanation is that a grant of visa or entry permit is not automatic and that at the point of entry, the Australian authorities do some further investigations and so based on those investigations some of the officials are not convinced that some of the Ghanaians who purport to go and cover the commonwealth games intend to return to Ghana after the games.”

Mr. Hadidze further revealed that, government did not facilitate the travel arrangements of the Ghanaians who are being deported.

However, government has assured it will investigate the deportation of the Ghanaians who were attending the Commonwealth games.