The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for the immediate dismissal and prosecution of Pius Enam Hadzide, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, following his recent admission of involvement in the 2018 Australia visa scandal and his statement indicating plans to engage in similar actions during the 2026 World Cup in the United States.

Pius Hadzide, who is also the parliamentary candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Asuogyaman constituency, made the alleged confession while addressing residents of New Senchi, saying, “Even far away Australia, I facilitated for people to travel there; so vote for me, and I will facilitate for the youths of Asuogyaman to travel to the US during the World Cup. 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.”

At a press conference held on Thursday, September 12, in Akosombo, Malik Basintale, the NDC’s Deputy National Communications Officer, called for Hadzide’s immediate removal from office and his prosecution, expressing outrage over his admission.

“So we are calling for his dismissal and immediate prosecution because we have not seen the report. You [media] have not seen the report. Nobody has seen the report, all we heard is that the CID was investigating the matter. How the investigation ended we do not know. Why is it that Mr. Akufo Addo is refusing to let us have a copy of the report because I have mentioned names of people who paid monies to him through his travel and tour”, Said Malik Bassintale.

He added ” All we are saying is that you cannot be an MP and at the same time want to be a connection man. You must have one profession at a time and we think that Pius Enamel Hadzide is more interested in his profession as a connection man than becoming MP so he should go and pursue that profession. Maybe it is a talent God has given him to always have strategic ways of collecting money from people, putting them in a plane, getting them to the border, and ensuring they are deported back to the country. So we are calling for his dismissal and immediate prosecution because we have not seen the report”.

He further questioned President Nana Akufo-Addo’s refusal to release the investigation report on the 2018 scandal, accusing the president of shielding Hadzide by clearing him of wrongdoing.

Embarrassment to the Constituency

Thomas Ampem Nyarko, the NDC Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, criticized Hadzide’s remarks, warning that such statements could jeopardize legitimate visa applications for Ghanaians seeking to attend the 2026 World Cup in the U.S.

“Obviously emboldened by support from the President, Pius Hadzide has boldly confessed to the crime and promised to repeat it if elected as MP. This will only make it harder for eligible Ghanaians to obtain visas from the U.S. Embassy,” Nyarko stated.

He condemned Hadzide’s approach to leadership, accusing him of promoting illegal migration and misleading the youth with false promises. “As a leader entrusted with the development of our nation’s young people, it is disappointing to witness such statements that encourage unapproved and potentially illegal means of migration,” he added.

Thomas Ampem Nyarko further expressed concern over the possible impact on the youth, warning that those who fall for such promises could face legal consequences. “What Pius is promising the youth of this constituency is criminal and could lead to arrests, deportations, and travel bans. We don’t want this for our young ones,” he said.

Nyarko also emphasized that genuine opportunities for travel and work abroad should be pursued legally. He pledged to continue supporting the youth of Asuogyaman by helping them acquire legal visas for education or work, adding, “I strongly advise against going with the intention to work illegally.”

Thomas Ampem Nyarko said that Hadzide’s tenure at the National Youth Authority has been plagued with allegations of malfeasance, suggesting that the NPP candidate’s growing wealth was a result of corruption. “He has been lulled into a false sense of invincibility on the back of unexplained wealth, which he flaunts in the constituency,” Nyarko noted.

The MP assured the people of Asuogyaman that they will not be misled by such promises of illegal opportunities abroad. “The people of this constituency believe in leadership with integrity and will not be bamboozled by questionable wealth. The Asuogyaman seat is not for sale,” he stated firmly.

The NDC concluded by urging the youth and traditional leaders not to fall for Hadzide’s “mischievous” character, promising to continue leading with integrity for the development of Asuogyaman.