What's wrong with an MP assisting his constituents to travel? – Pius Hadzide defends his World Cup travel promise

The New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate for the Asuogyaman constituency, Pius Enam Hadzide, has defended his promise to facilitate travel opportunities for his constituents, including taking them to the 2026 World Cup scheduled to be held in the United States of America if they make him their Member of Parliament (MP).

The NPP parliamentary candidate, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Youth Authority (NYA), has come under heavy criticism after a video clip of his comment went viral.

Pius Hadzide, according to GHOne TV, has said that there is nothing wrong with the promise he made.

He asked his critics to state exactly what was wrong with his promise.

“What is wrong with an MP assisting his constituents to travel?” the MP is quoted as having said in a post shared on X by GHOne TV.

The parliamentary hopeful also refuted assertions that his promise was an affirmation of his involvement in the Australian Visa Scandal.

He said that an investigation into the Australian scandal cleared him of any wrongdoing, adding that proponents of the opposition National Democratic Congress are the ones passing the narrative of the scandal.

“I was cleared of any wrongdoing in the Australian Visa scandal. It is only desperate NDC apparatchiks who will bring that issue up again,” he is reported to have said.

What Pius said:

Addressing constituents during his campaign in the constituency, in a video posted by Citi FM on X, Pius Hadzide highlighted how he had helped some individuals travel abroad to explore greater opportunities in the past.

“Nananom, did you know that it takes 18 hours to travel from Ghana to Australia? Yet, I was able to assist some individuals in making this journey. The 2026 World Cup will be held in America, which is just a 7-hour flight from Ghana.

“If you, nananom, desire for your children to travel to America to work and send money back home, or if you are a young person eager to explore opportunities abroad, I promise to support you when I become MP," he is heard saying in Twi in the video.

Throwing shades at his opponent, Hadzide accused him of failing to improve the fortunes of the youth in the constituency during his time in office.

He urged the constituents to vote for him as their Member of Parliament, promising to reward them with opportunities to travel abroad to Europe.

“Unlike my opponent who has had the chance but failed to assist the youth, I will facilitate travel opportunities for all interested young people to destinations like Germany, America, UK, France, and Canada.

“So, I kindly ask for your support in the election, and I will ensure that I help you achieve your dreams of travelling abroad,” he assured.

His comments were met with applause and cheers from the crowd he was addressing.

Background:

This is not the first time Pius Hadzide has been linked to travelling or visa-related issues.

A Deputy Minister of Information at the time, Pius Enam Hadzide was accused of marring Ghana’s participation in the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Hadzide was accused of being involved in visa fraud and racketeering which led to the deportation of about 60 people from Australia.

The allegations resulted in his suspension by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo from the sports portfolio, together with the acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Robert Sarfo Mensah; and the NSA board chairman, Kwadwo Baah Agyemang.

The matter was referred to CID for investigations, following which Mr. Hadzide was cleared of any wrongdoing. He was later appointed Deputy Information Minister. Mr. Baah Agyemang was also reinstated.

In and among Ghana’s delegation to Australia was a group of people who had been designated as journalists even though that was not true.

“The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Honourable Pius Enam Hadzide, was also mentioned as someone who influenced the inclusion of some people in the accreditation machine … Again the Deputy Minister’s name was mentioned as employing the services of one Patrick Ampadu to collect twelve thousand US dollars ($12,000) on his behalf from one Maxwell [Koffie Lugudor].

“The supposed Maxwell [Lugudor] was called and in his statement also denied having paid any such money to the said Patrick Ampadu,” a CID report said.

It was also alleged that there was a meeting between the sector Minister and Mr. Hadzide, together with the acting NSA director general, during which the director-general “admitted that he added four (4) names and the Board Chairman of the NSA also added five (5) names to the accreditation list”.

According to the CID report, “Even though a greater number of journalists and others applied through the link opened by the Gold Coast Organising Committee, all of them had their applications approved.”

It added that out of the 12 people who were handed over for investigation, three were indeed journalists from accredited media houses whilst one was a staff of the National Sports Authority.

“The remaining eight (8) were those found to have posed as journalists. They will all be arraigned before the court for making false declarations to obtain visas after we have obtained the necessary supporting evidence.

“The allegation that the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Honourable Pius Enam Hadzide, facilitated the inclusion of several names into the Commonwealth Games accreditation system could not be proven.

“Also, the allegation that one Patrick collected twelve thousand United States dollars ($12,000) from one Maxwell on behalf of Honourable Hadzide could not be established,” the CID report says.

The report added: “The alleged meeting between the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, his Deputy and the Acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority where the Acting Director-General was alleged to have stated that he caused four names to be included in the accreditation list whilst the Board Chairman of the NSA also caused five names to be added have all been denied. There is no evidence to support the alleged meeting and the confession.”

BAI/ ADG

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