Ghana government officials are denying a claim that football fans airlifted to South Africa Thursday dawn are stranded at the Oliver Thambo Airport in South Africa. The supporters, part of a group who failed to make a list of government sponsored fans to cheer the Black Stars and left stranded at the EL-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra, were airlifted to South Africa Thursday dawn. At midday, a Ghanaian resident in South Africa who identified himself only as Kofi told Joy News' Stephen Anti that the fans had been loitering at the airport for hours with no idea where to go. “I am here at the Oliver Thambo Airport. I came to pick a friend here this morning. And I saw a lot of Ghanaians stranded here which is really an eyesore" he said. According to him the stranded supporters, freezing under the cold weather would not even want to speak to anybody, adding they are just a "nuisance" to everybody. But Deputy Local Government Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, one of the officials who supervised the airlifting of the 347 supporters dismissed the claim, saying the supporters had safely arrived in South Africa and were being bussed to their various camps. “First of all we cannot tell where this gentleman claims he is speaking from South Africa… We dont have any proof of that. What is the guarantee that he is indeed in South Africa?" He mentioned the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr. Ade Coker as the official coordinating the airlifting of the supporters and challenged Joy News to call the chairman and confirm. “Secondly I have just been on the phone with Mr Ade Coker who is coordinating this people… As I speak to you now the people are being bussed...I am speaking on authority,” he said, adding that Ade Coker will provide "Live Update" if he is called. Elvis Ankrah accused certain individuals of scheming and plotting to make the party look bad and making unfounded allegations about the organization of the trip. Joy News however managed to contact an immigration officer in South Africa who confirmed that the supporters were indeed stranded. Listen to her. The lady officer said the supporters had been waiting “angry and hungry” at the airport for over two hours, and urged officials to come to their aid. “The people came from Ghana this morning and they are still here. They are all standing here very stranded. “Is there anything you can do to help this people?” she quizzed When Stephen Anti finally contacted Ade Coker, he denied that the supporters were stranded, claiming that the supporters were being bussed to their various camps. He explained that the flight arrived ahead of schedule at which time buses to convey them had not arrived, but was quick to add that the buses were now in and were conveying the supporters to their various places. Asked if he could hand over the phone to one of the supporters to confirm or deny the report, he said he was not present at the airport but had spoken to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Akua Sena Dansua who he said had confirmed to him that the supporters erre being bussed. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana