Pius Hadzide: NSA Secretariat Visa Scandal Demands Accountability

• Pius Enam Hadzide, Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, has questioned the National Sports Authority's secretariat and an appointment outside its structure.
• He demanded clarity on who is responsible for the alleged $623,000 2026 World Cup visa scandal.
• Individuals are reportedly confessing to paying money for visa facilitation, with official correspondence cited.
• The NSA and Sports Ministry deny authorizing money collection or guaranteeing visas, but the police CID is investigating.
• Hadzide referenced his 2018 suspension over an Australian visa controversy, where he was later cleared, to emphasize the need for clear accountability.

Hadzide called for clear accountability regarding the unfolding 2026 World Cup visa controversy, emphasizing the need to identify those responsible for any alleged misconduct.

Pius Enam Hadzide, Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, has publicly questioned the operational integrity of the National Sports Authority (NSA), specifically targeting the establishment of a new secretariat and an appointment he describes as being outside the agency's official organizational framework. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, October 12, Hadzide called for clear accountability regarding the unfolding 2026 World Cup visa controversy, emphasizing the need to identify those responsible for any alleged misconduct.

His remarks come amidst serious allegations that individuals linked to the NSA collected approximately $623,000, purportedly to facilitate visas for the 2026 World Cup. Hadzide highlighted alleged payments made by individuals and official correspondence as key areas requiring thorough investigation. He noted that letters related to these applications reportedly traversed through the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before reaching the embassy, with journalists having obtained copies of these critical documents.

The core of the current controversy revolves around claims of an unauthorized secretariat within the NSA and an appointment that does not align with its established organogram. Hadzide, who served in the Akufo-Addo administration, pointed to confessions from individuals who claim to have paid money in connection with the visa facilitation scheme. These revelations form the basis for the criticism directed at figures such as Sports Minister Kofi Adams and former NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), according to Hadzide.

Both the National Sports Authority and the Sports Ministry have issued strong denials regarding their involvement in any wrongdoing. The NSA explicitly stated it did not authorize the collection of funds or the operation of any visa facilitation office. Similarly, the Sports Ministry clarified that while it forwarded documents through diplomatic channels, this action did not constitute selecting applicants or guaranteeing visa approvals. Despite these denials, the Ghana Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has initiated an investigation into the allegations.

Drawing parallels to his own past experiences, Hadzide underscored the importance of establishing a clear basis for blame in public scandals. He contrasted the current situation, where signed letters and accounts of payments reportedly exist, with the 2018 Australian visa controversy that led to his suspension. During that incident, Ghanaians were allegedly attempting to enter Australia for the Commonwealth Games by posing as journalists.

Hadzide was suspended by then-President Akufo-Addo in April 2018 but was subsequently cleared and reinstated in July of the same year. He argued that, in his case, no public evidence ever established that he had received payment for travel to Australia. This personal history informs his current demand for a definitive reassessment of the 2018 episode and for unequivocal clarity regarding responsibility in the ongoing 2026 World Cup visa scandal.

Legal and compliance officers advising public sector entities in Ghana should scrutinize internal organizational structures and appointment processes to ensure strict adherence to established protocols, mitigating risks of fraud, corruption, and criminal investigation, especially concerning sensitive operations like visa facilitation.

Source: Original reporting via Abubakar Ibrahim.