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I’m in pain…Asamoah Gyan recounts how he first met Christian Atsu in 2012
Former captain of the Black Stars, Asamoah Gyan has revealed that Christian Atsu’s demise has dealt him a painful blow.
He said Christian only travelled to make ends meet for his family and other needy individuals, only to meet his untimely demise in such a harsh way.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports show with Kwadwo Mensah Moshosho on Monday, Asamoah Gyan said this will let people understand some of the harsh realities of footballers who travel abroad.
Against this backdrop, he urged Ghanaians to excise patience and decorum when criticising them.
Recounting how he met Christian Atsu, ‘Baby Jet’ said he first encountered him in 2012, during his Soccer Fiesta tournaments where footballers locked horns with musicians.
He revealed someone introduced Atsu to him as a Ghanaian player who plies his trade in Portugal for FC Porto, and he was given a chance in the second half.
According to him, upon noticing his exceptional qualities, he told Atsu that if he works hard, he could break into the Black Stars.
Interestingly, in less than a year, he was handed his maiden call-up by coach Kwesi Appiah.
Asamoah Gyan said Christian Atsu became an instrumental player in the team, and in 2015 he was in the form of his life.
He said it did not come as a surprise to the team when Atsun won the Player and Goal of the Tournament at the Total African Cup of Nations.
Asamoah Gyan said, Atsu was in the form of his life and it was difficult to even dispossess him on the ball.
“Atsu could take on players, assist and position himself well to score, he was very instrumental to the team,” Asamoah Gyan said.
He further said Christian Atsu repeated and had a lot of belief in him(Asamoah Gyan), ” he could come to me in my room when I am not well to plead with me to do something because I was the only one who could win the match for Ghana, he believed and respected me so much.”
Asamoah Gyan disclosed that the players will put themselves together with the FA and other stakeholders to ensure Atsu is given a befitting burial.
He expressed his condolences to the family and loved ones of Christian Atsu.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
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Energy Minister announces full restoration of power generation units after major grid disruption
Energy Minister, John Jinapor has announced that all power generation units affected by the recent national grid disruption have been fully restored and are back in service.
According to the Minister on social media, engineers, technicians and emergency response teams worked continuously to restore electricity supply and stabilise the national grid after the incident caused major challenges within the power sector.
In a statement, the Minister praised the efforts of personnel from the Ghana Grid Company Limited, Volta River Authority and Electricity Company of Ghana for their commitment and coordination during the emergency.
“Mission accomplished. All generation units are now back in service,” the Minister stated.
He explained that despite the scale of the disruption, technical teams worked around the clock to restore power and secure stability within the system.
“Through their tireless work, discipline, and commitment to country, power has been restored and system stability secured,” he said.
The Minister further expressed appreciation to the leadership and staff of GRIDCo, VRA, ECG and other supporting agencies for their collective response to the crisis.
According to him, the successful restoration of the system demonstrates the resilience and capability of Ghanaian professionals in times of national difficulty.
“This moment shows that even under pressure, Ghana can rely on the strength and skill of its people,” he added.
The Minister offered prayers for the country’s energy sector and the engineers who led the restoration efforts.
“May God bless our engineers, our energy sector, and our nation,” he stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
