Thomas Nyarko Ampem, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asuogyaman has condemned his main contender, Pius Hadzide of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA) over his controversial promise to facilitate youth travel abroad.
Ampem expressed his deep concern over the potential damage to the reputation of the Asuogyaman constituency.
He highlighted that the video showed Hadzide boasting about his role in the visa fraud, despite previously denying any involvement and being cleared by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
The 2017 scandal involved the fraudulent acquisition of visas for over 60 individuals posing as journalists for the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
The Australian authorities discovered the deception, leading to the deportation of the individuals and causing international embarrassment for Ghana.
Despite the outcry for accountability, Hadzide was cleared of wrongdoing after an investigation by the National Investigations Bureau.
In the recent video, Hadzide reportedly promised to facilitate similar allegedly fraudulent activities if elected as MP, including securing visas for the youth of Asuogyaman to attend the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
Ampem criticised these promises, warning that such actions could lead to increased scrutiny of genuine applicants by the US government, potentially harming the chances of legitimate supporters of the Black Stars.
He called on the electorate to be cautious of Hadzide's promises and to consider the long-term implications of electing a candidate with a history of fraudulent activities.
He urged the youth to seek legitimate opportunities and not be swayed by promises of illegal schemes.