Pius Enam Hadzide, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Asuogyaman in the Eastern Region, has clarified his involvement in the 2017 Australian Visa scandal, stating that he only supported two individuals to travel to Australia for educational purposes and not to go and participate in the Commonwealth Games.
It can be recalled that in 2017 while serving as Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, he became embroiled in the Australian Visa scandal, which saw some Ghanaians falsely posing as journalists to secure visas for the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Though suspended at the time, Hadzide was later exonerated and reinstated by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, Hadzide reiterated that his role in the scandal had been misconstrued and that he only assisted two individuals-a young man and a young woman-who were seeking to study abroad, not to participate in the Commonwealth Games. "I as a person was not even in Australia during the Commonwealth Games.
I went to Australia before the Commonwealth Games. "…Just two people, it was one young lady and one young man who wanted to study outside the country and if you want to speak to them, I probably can get in contact with them.
I haven't spoken with them for some time but we can speak with them on this matter. "I went with them but not on the same flights.
I knew about their going, we met in Australia, and I facilitated it.
I took them through the process and I supported them, I gave them some money to support the buying of their tickets," he stated.