Sarfo Ansah and Rose Yeboah from the University of Cape Coast, two athletes from Ghana, were denied visas by the Hungarian Embassy in Accra in advance of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Some Team Ghana officials, including the recently elected president of the Ghana Athletics Association, Bawa Fuseini, reportedly received visa denials as well, according to a report by Joy Sports.
This implies that when the 2023 World Athletics Championships are held in Ghana from August 19 to August 27, some of its finest athletes won’t be there.
Rose Yeboah from Kwame Nkrumah Hall in the University of Cape Coast had great expectations after recently breaking the 1.94m national record on her way to the gold medal at the World University Games in China.
Although she is also the current African high jump champion, her refusal of a visa would prevent her from competing in the next championships in Budapest.
In the meanwhile, Sarfo Ansah was scheduled to replace Benjamin Azamati, who withdrew from the event due to an injury, and join Ghana’s 4x100m relay team.
Azamati withdrew from the forthcoming Championships last week, citing a groin problem that had been worse by his crossing continents while still competing.
The 25-year-old said in a statement that it was best to withdraw since he wouldn’t be able to recover in time and because it was recommended by doctors.
The remaining members of the Ghanaian team have been camping in France and are scheduled to arrive in Hungary on Friday for the Championships.