Police Nab Run-Away �Deaf� Coach

The coach of the national deaf sportsmen team, Winfred Chartey Annan, who allegedly connived with the Sports Development Officer of the National Sports Council to send able-bodied persons to participate in an international Olympic game meant for the deaf, in Australia, has been arrested by police. Mr. Annan, 49, was arrested at 6:30 pm on Wednesday at Osu near the Independence Square. Annan and James Armah, the Sports Development Officer, were alleged to have collected GH�4,000 from each of the 12 able-bodied persons to participate in a sports tournament meant for the deaf in Australia in July this year. The 12 able-bodied persons including the son of the coach, pretended to be deaf participated in the game but disappeared soon afterwards. Although Mr. Armah was arrested, the coach went into hiding until his arrest on Wednesday. The Director-General of the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Frank Adu-Poku, who told the Times newspaper about Mr. Annan�s arrest, said the suspect is assisting the police in their investigations. The Ghanaian Times, reported on its front page of the arrest of Mr. Armah, last August 6 and has since been put before court. Mr. Adu-Poku said even though the passports of 12 players of the deaf team were collected to be processed for the trip, Annan and Armah allegedly substituted them with those of able-bodied persons, who they took to Australia for the tournament. After the tournament, DCOP Adu-Poku said the two officials who accompanied the team, returned home without the squad. DCOP Adu-Poku commended the public for their support in giving information that led to the arrest of Mr. Annan.