Deputy Sports Minister clears air on 'Twi journalist' comments

Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Pius Enam Hadzide has come out to clear the air on issues with regards to comments made earlier about journalists who were returned from Australia for failing to convince border authorities.

Several journalists were denied access to cover the 2018 Commonwealth games in Australia following their inability to convince the authorities about their professions.

This led to a saga which saw the Minister temporarily suspended for Visa racketeering but was cleared and returned to his position some few weeks ago.

In addressing the issues that transpired in Australia, the Deputy Minister of Sports was accused of stating that "Twi" journalist were the most deported from Australia.

However, Pius Enam-Hadzide has come out to clear himself of the statements, which he believes was erroneously interpreted.

"My attention has been drawn to some publications making the rounds that I made comments to the effect that it was journalists who could not express themselves in English language that were deported from Australia. This is preposterous! I never said that and I would never say that. I respect the people of Ghana particularly Ghanaian journalists too much to make such an unguarded statement. Out of that respect I recently agreed to and engaged with the SWAG even off record. I granted a 30 Mins interview to the ghanaweb and along the line I explained that not all who were returned from Australia were impersonators that indeed one or two were journalists that I know who worked with some major two stations were also regrettably returned. I only sort to clarify a question regarding impersonation."

"This honest clarification is now being twisted to cause disaffection for me. I humbly and respectfully ask you all to disregard those reports and please have the assurances of my highest consideration of Ghanaian journalists," he wrote.