Ghana Federation of Disabled disassociate itself from Australia scandal

Accra, Aug. 06, GNA - The Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) and its member organizations have disassociated themselves from the scandal following a purported friendly match with their Australian counterparts.

They said the blame should rather be blamed squarely on officials of the National Sports Council who were actively involved in the process.

Ms Rita Kyeremaa Kusi, Executive Director of the GFD at a press conference in Accra on Thursday said that "over the past years, disabled sports men and women have faced exploitation through visa racketeering and human trafficking activities by people purporting to work for the National Sports Council".

She said such acts have been considered by the GFD as criminal and has been strongly kicked against by leaders of the sports wings of the various member organizations on the quite but it is now opportune to draw attention to the exploitation of the rights of the disabled in view of the occurrence of the several incidence of the kind.

The Ghana Federation of the Disabled is made of member organizations such as the Ghana Association of the Blind, Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled, Share Care Ghana, Parents' Association of Children with Intellectual Disability, Society of Albinos Ghana and the Ghana National Association of the Deaf.

It would be recalled that GNA Sports had information that the Deaf Football Australia had threatened dragging the Association of Sports for the Disabled of Ghana (ASBOG) to the International Sports Confederation for the Disabled for sanctions over allegations of the sending of hearing players to Australia for an international friendly.

The Deaf Football Australia were demanding the payment of 14,789.00 US Dollars as refund covering the cost of Ghana's contingent to Australia with Brian Seymour, Secretary General saying that the invoice was for expenses for 39 persons who made the trip.

It is believed that 25 hearing persons who made the trip were said to have parted with 4000 dollars each to the organizers, with James Armah, a Sports Development Officer of the NSC as the main culprit.

Ms Kusi confirmed that the 12 hearing impaired (deaf) persons who were to participate in the event failed to make the trip and are all currently in the country with their passports yet to be released to them.

She regretted that sport for persons with disability has not been adequately supported over the years by government and the corporate bodies and have seen repeated attempts by past governments to exclude such athletes from participating in international events such as the Paralympic and Commonwealth Games and often had to make it largely with support from individuals and a few institutions.

The Executive Director said the GFD would not shield any of its member organizations that act contrary to the law and expressed their gratitude to government and the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the efforts of getting the culprits to book.

The GFD recommended among others for action by government through the Ministry to conduct and investigate the Australia scandal and to collaborate with persons with disabilities to restructure and reconstitute the various committees under it.

They also urged the National Sports Council to ensure that the cost incurred by their Australian counterparts is paid on time to avoid any international sanctions against Ghana and that separate boards be formed for the National Paralympic Committee, Deaflympics, Special Olympics and the Association of Sports for the Disabled (ASFOD).

Mr Abdul-Aziz Mohammed, President of the Sports Wing of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled noted that members are often discriminated and neglected by the Ministry and the National Sports Council and denied any budgetary support to participate in international events.

He noted that the Australian scandal is not an isolated case since there have been exploitation of the disabled persons by officials who often take advantage to deny members the benefits they should enjoy from such international events.

Mr Jonathan Michael Amuah, Vice President of Confederation of African Deaf Sports and Mr Godfred Baffoe, captain of the Deaf football team, (Black Wonders) said this is not the first time that people with disabilities have been short-changed and therefore urged that thorough investigations be conducted to save members from been denied participating in the international events.

They noted that any sanctions that need to be meted out should be laid at the door steps of the officials of the National Sports Council and not the disabled persons since they are always taken advantage of and denied opportunities to participate in international events with their colleagues.