Ghana’s foreign mission in Congo has reacted to local media reports in Brazzaville that claims the Congolese women’s national team were ‘harassed’ and not allowed entry into Ghana for their game against the Black Queens last month.

The Congolese team were billed to play the Black Queens in the African Women’s Championship on July 23 but failed to show up for the match due to a botched travel arrangement.

Ghana’s Consulate-General described as unfortunate, reports monitored on national radio in Brazzaville by sports journalist, Charlie Napataka from Cotonou who repeatedly used the word “Harassment” to describe a number trips allegedly made by the from Cotonou to the Aflao border without being allowed entry to Ghana, after the match had been called off.

“The principal concern of the Consulate-General, in reacting to the misinformation was the possibility of hostile reception or “revenge” against Ghanaian teams which may come to Brazzaville for matches in the future.

Ghana’s mission stated that the Ghana Football Association contacted them (Consulate) on July 17 to find out the flight particulars of the Red Devils in anticipation of the match, which they requested, from the Congolese FA up until July 21.

“Unfortunately, no information was provided to the Consulate-General on the trip of the team.

“The Congolese FA (FECOFOOT) also did not show any interest in obtaining visas despite the initiative from the Ghana mission.

“It is recalled that in March 2006, before the official opening of the Consulate-General and the GFA’s initiative, the Consulate-General collaborated very fruitfully with FECOFOOT authorities in preparations for matches between Berekum Arsenals of Ghana and the Black Devils (Les Diables Noires) of the Congo. In this regard, 25 gratis visas were issued to Ghanaian players and officials by the Congolese authorities against more than forty issued to Congolese players for the matches in Ghana and the Congo. Some of the visas were issued within thirty minutes of receipt of applications by the (then) Consul General designate.

“With regard to the women’s team, the red devils, the consulate-general of Ghana has never been contacted for visas. It is obvious, therefore, that neither the Ghana Immigration Service nor the GFA can in any way be held responsible for the current situation of the team.

“The Consulate-General strongly protests against the deliberate disinformation of this matter, since FECOFOOT has been aware since March 2006 of the existence of the Consulate-General of Ghana in Brazzaville and that the latter delivers visas,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football-CAF decided to set up a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of the African Women’s Championship qualifier between Ghana and Congo.

CAF backed down on its instruction that the game must be played on a new date after a comprehensive protest letter from the Ghana Football Association.

Congo cited flight problems for their failure to show up for the first leg of the qualifier in Obuasi on Sunday.

The match commissioner had called off the fixture and declared Ghana winners over the two legs after convincing herself that the Congolese had breached the applicable CAF regulations.