Pius Hadzide 'chokes' as he attempts to defend Akufo-Addo's comment on Mahama’s 'Green Book'

Deputy Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide had a torrid and nerve-wracking time on Newsfile validating President Akufo-Addo’s claim about the infrastructure record of the Mahama government.

Earlier in the week, President Akufo-Addo rubbished the much-touted road projects undertaken by the previous government, stating that it existed only in the ‘Green Book’.

President Akufo-Addo indicated that Mr. Mahama’s “so-called unprecedented projects only exist in their Green Book”.

On the June 13 edition of the show, Pius Hadzide was paired with a deputy communication minister under the Mahama government to discuss the President’s allegations.

In his opening remarks, Pius Hadzide made a comment which according to the host was at variance and a shift from what the President said.

Pius: … So it is only fair to suggest that if you indeed promised and assured us the roads were fixed and that you had put those roads in the green book and now people are complaining of the roads then you may have misled the people or insistence that the roads do exist ..”

Samson Lardi:” You said it is only fair to suggest, did the President suggest?”

Pius after having a second listening of the Nana Akufo-Addo’s comment said that “My understanding is that it was a fair suggestion to make and he was indeed making a suggestion that it was misleading what was put in Green Book. The people were hoodwinked and in fact, misrepresentation was done on the part of the previous government.”

Unconvinced by the Minister’s assertions, the host requested a replay of the comment for the third time after which he questioned him again.

Pius then ‘huffed and puffed’ in trying to back his earlier stance, stating that “I am having a discussion and for me what the President said is a factual representation of what is on the ground. The unprecedented development that we were told. That roads were so smooth that riding on them you could fall asleep. Those fantasies did not exist on the ground.

After that dramatic episode, Pius was then impressed upon to prove his allegations by pointing to one project in the book which in his estimation exists not.

The former Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports could not point to any of the projects but said “I can understand what exercise you want us to engage in but I think that we must put the President’s comment’s in context. For instance, the Tema road project was it not indicated in the green book? The Terminal three, was it not indicated in the book?

After several unsuccessful attempts by the host to have the Minister identify a single project in the book that does not exist, Pius then sought refuge in a supposed call from an Ada resident who claims that the construction of the Ada Coastline defence wall as stated in page 60 of the book was untrue.

A check by the host and Pius himself revealed that there was no mention of the said project in page 60.

The Minister also admitted though some of the projects do exist, the NDC cannot claim credit for them.

“The projects in the Green Book partly exist and partly paint a misleading picture…in fact some of us long ago held the view that it is a fraud…some of the Green Book pictures were artistic impressions,” he said.

Social media reactions

On social media people have been reacting to the Minister’s performance with trolls and condemnations about his performance on the show

The whole Ghana, nobody make hot pass Pius Hadzide this morning#Newsfile

— Ing. Nii Afotey Kwei ???????????????????????? (@niiafoteyquaye) June 13, 2020

Rescue mission for happen right now. Pius Hadjide is bleeding bad bad. @FelixKwakyeOfo1 keeps jabbing and throwing all the relevant punches. It’s clear the Nana Addo rose on the basis of lies. Time really just exposed the NPP and is vindicating @JDMahama.

— BABA SADIQ (@sadiqabdulaiabu) June 13, 2020

I've been saying that don't be pairing Pius with Felix Kwakye. See how the Pius is suffering.#newsfile

— Elias Fairchild: || #Wenodeyhear || #NoLongTalk (@TheFairchild_) June 13, 2020

This is the Holy Book of the NDC called The Green Book tormenting the entire NPP. Pius confirmed on #Newsfile that, Nana Addo lied about the green book. The entire NPP is yet to point out a single project in the green book that never existed. The NPP came into power with lies and pic.twitter.com/jvEG8WkBkl

— ???????????????????????????? ???????????? (@citizenyao) June 13, 2020

Hahahaha
Pius will never like to encounter Felix ever again#Newsfile pic.twitter.com/f8LYhKEIgV

— Baba Mohammed ???????????????????????? (@Dorsty1R) June 13, 2020

Samson: Pius this is the #GreenBook point out which projects that @NAkufoAddo said only exist in the #GreenBook but not on the ground.

Pius: Let @FelixKwakyeOfo1 show us. ????????????

The camera man still rolling on the ground laughing. #ProperScrutiny

— Peter Doe Jnr ???????? (@PeterDoeJnr1) June 13, 2020

#Newsfile is the one platform you can’t get away with propaganda on. You either back your claims with facts or you’ll be found out like Pius Enam Hadzide this morning. We must do our politics devoid of blatant propaganda and untruths.

— Nii Adamah Sackey, Esq (@dessack) June 13, 2020

#Newsfile is the one platform you can’t get away with propaganda on. You either back your claims with facts or you’ll be found out like Pius Enam Hadzide this morning. We must do our politics devoid of blatant propaganda and untruths.

— Nii Adamah Sackey, Esq (@dessack) June 13, 2020

Pius Hadzide is the English version of Wontumi...

— Yayra Koku (@YayraKoku) June 13, 2020

But for politics and blatant propaganda, Pius Hadzide would have been a very fine gentleman.

I feel bad seeing him become a merchant of mischief. Sad.

Lol Sampson is clearly not interested in his submissions anymore. Watch how he has started distracting Felix Ofosu.#Newsfile

— Mr. Slim (@ebenezer_slim) June 13, 2020