Deaf Men Hearing Scandal: Visa Fraud?

ASBOD Gen Sec invited for alleged visa fraud

Accra, Aug. 4, GNA - Mr James Dennis Armah, General Secretary of Association for Sports for the Disabled, (ASBOD) has been invited by the National Security following his alleged sending of hearing players to an international friendly match with Deaf Football Team of Australia. The GNA Sports can confirm that Mr Armah was invited on Monday, August 3, for questioning by the National Security.

Information pieced together by GNA Sports reveals that Mr Armah was on the verge of losing his job after absenting himself from work for 12 days prior to the invitation by the National Security.

Mr Worlanyo K. Agrah, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Sports Council who confirmed this to the GNA Sports, said the invitation was upon his recommendation after officials of ASBOD gave him a detailed report on the conduct of Mr Armah.

The Chief Executive said he is awaiting a formal report from the National Security on their investigations after which the necessary punitive measures will be taken.

He told GNA Sports he had also made an official request to the Australian Embassy to furnish his outfit with the names of the alleged 25 hearing players who traveled to Australia for further investigations since the Council was kept in the dark about the trip.

Mr Agrah has since written to all embassies in Accra to disregard any letter from the NSC that does not bear his signature. The Deaf Football Australia on Monday threatened to drag the ASBOD to the International Sports Confederation for the Disabled (ISCD) for sanctions after allegations that Ghana sent hearing players to Australia for an international friendly.

The Deaf Football Australia is also demanding USD 14,789.00 from Ghana as refund covering the cost of Ghana's contingent in Australia with deadline fixed for August 14, 2009.
It is believed the 25 hearing persons were sent to Australia to represent Ghana after they each parted with 4000 dollars to get a place on the trip in July instead of the eligible non-hearing persons of the Association.