President Akufo-Addo (middle) with family members, Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ghana Football Association delegation
It was an emotional moment when President Akufo-Addo met the family of the late Ghanaian international footballer, Christian Twasam Atsu, who met his untimely death in the tragic earthquake that hit Turkey a couple of weeks ago.
This was when family members of the late Black Stars player and officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) led by its President, Kurt Okraku called on the President at the Jubilee House to officially inform him about the passing of their kinsman.
The delegation also included Atsu’s twin sister, Atsuvi and some elders from the Ada Traditional Area.
The President announced the decision of the state to assist the family of the late Ghanaian football international to give him a befitting burial.
He has since directed the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Akosua Frema Osei Opare, to liaise with the family, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to ensure that the decision is executed.
He described Atsu as an exceptional athlete and a gift to the nation.
The President described his death as a tragedy for his family, the football community and the entire nation.
It is for this reason he said “our responsibility is to give you as much support as we can. We can never erase the loss of this very brilliant man, but there it is. I always console myself with the fact that, at the end of the day, no matter the circumstances, the Almighty will call each one of us, one by one, and perhaps, that was his [Christian Atsu] destiny; that he is called in this tragic way.”
“The Ghanaian people must express their appreciation for the work that he did for our nation and the contribution he made to the development of the game and to the development of sports in general,” he noted.
As father of the nation, the President said he would personally like to be at the funeral of the late football star and thus asked the family to work closely with his office in choosing a date for the funeral.
On his part, President of the GFA, Kurt Okraku, indicated that the family stands ready to partner with the state and the Office of the President, to give their beloved a befitting burial.
He took the opportunity to thank the government and people of Ghana for all the love and support shown since the incident happened on February 6, 2023.
Addressing the President on behalf of Christian Atsu’s family, Nene Agudey Obichere III, the Ada State Mankralo, requested the President and for that matter, the nation, to consider instituting a national monument in honour of the late Ghanaian football international.
President Akufo-Addo welcomed the call made by Nene Agudey Obichere III, describing it as a reasonable demand. He indicated that his office together with the GFA and the Ministry of Youth and Sports will find an appropriate monument to honour the late Christian Atsu.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu