2 Ghanaian athletes disappear from 2018 Commonwealth Games
The Badminton Association of Ghana has confirmed that two of the athletes sent to the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, ran away from camp and did not return with the contingent.
The two, Gifty Mensah and Stella Amasah, were active in the games and represented Ghana in the women’s mixed and team events.
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However, according to the Association they went ‘missing’ a day after they were eliminated.
Stella Amasah’s run in the competition ended on April 12 when she and Emmanuel Donkor lost to Malaysia’s Goh Soon Huat, and Lai Shevon Jemie in the Mixed Doubles Round of 16 match.
Gifty Mensah exited the competition when she and Grace Atipaka lost 2-0 to Sonia Cheah and Lai Shevon Jemie of Malaysia in the women’s doubles round of 32.
The Badminton Association has stated that it has notified the Commonwealth Games Federation, the Australian Boarder Police and the National security desk, INTERPOL, the Ghana High Commission in Australia and the Ghanaian community.
According to their statement released on Monday and signed by the President of the Badminton Association of Ghana, Yeboah Evans, the athletes, should they be found, will be prosecuted under Australian law and extradited to Ghana.
This is regardless of the fact that Ghana is already dealing with a visa scandal that saw the deportation of over 60 Ghanaians who were part of the delegation to Australia to witness the games.
The Ghanaians, believed to have traveled as journalists were found out by the Australian authorities and deported. This has led to the suspension of Ghana’s Deputy Minister and two other officials, as investigations continue into the matter.
Commonwealth Games: 8 Cameroon athletes ‘missing’ from camp
On April 11 2018, the BBC also reported that eight Cameroonian athletes had gone missing from their accommodation at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
The three weightlifters and five boxers were last seen at different times on Monday and Tuesday. Cameroon said the group had valid Australian visas until 15 May. The Australian government has warned athletes against overstaying their visas. These incidents have been recorded in times past as athletes seek better lives in these host countries.
In 2012, seven Cameroonian athletes disappeared while in London for the Olympics.
Credit: Citnewsroom.com