Ghana’s international sporting endeavors have been marred by a series of mysterious disappearances and scandals that have raised questions about the integrity and management of its sports teams. From the unexpected disappearance of athletes at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne to the shocking revelation of imposters in the national deaf football team during a 2009 friendly in Australia, these incidents have cast a long shadow over Ghana’s sports reputation.
Further compounding the issue, the 2018 Commonwealth Games saw a significant scandal involving the deportation of nearly 50 individuals falsely claiming to be journalists. Jetsanza.com has put together all the times Ghana trended in the world of sports for either disappearing after arriving in a host country or sending the wrong athletes to participate in sporting events.
In April 2024, the entire Ghanaian Paralympic team disappeared in Oslo, Norway, prompting the Norwegian embassy to seek help in locating the missing members. The team vanished after arriving to participate in the Fjordkraft Bergen City Marathon.
At the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, 14 athletes from various African countries, including some from Ghana, reportedly went missing. These athletes disappeared during or after the games, with many believed to have overstayed their visas in search of better economic opportunities.
A Ghanaian delegate and athletes and officials from other countries went missing during the Commonwealth Games in 2022 in Birmingham, UK. In total, 17 people were reported missing, including 13 competitors and four officials. While some were found, the Ghanaian delegate remained unaccounted for.
Reports suggested that athletes and officials from multiple African nations, including Ghana, had disappeared in Gold Coast, Australia, during the Commonwealth Games 2018. While specific details about the Ghanaian individuals were not confirmed, it was acknowledged that absconding incidents had occurred during the games.
During the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, about 50 Ghanaians posing as journalists were deported after they failed to answer basic sports-related questions. This incident raised suspicions of misrepresentation and deceit, resulting in their visas being canceled and subsequent deportation. Investigations revealed that some deportees had paid officials for their visas under false pretenses.
In 2009, Ghana sent a team purported to be the national deaf football team to Australia for a friendly match. However, it was discovered that many team members were not hearing-impaired. This was exposed when team members were seen clapping and dancing, which shocked the Australian hosts and led to significant embarrassment.
This is a troubling pattern that not only undermines the credibility of Ghana’s sports authorities but also poses serious challenges for future international participations.
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