Akufo-Addo announces state-assisted funeral for Christian Atsu.

Akufo-Addo announces state-assisted funeral for Christian Atsu.

Christian Atsu Twasam, a Ghanaian international football player who perished in the Turkish earthquake, will get a state-sponsored funeral, President Akufo-Addo declared on Monday.

Following the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023, and left more than 50,000 people dead in both countries, Atsu, 31, was discovered dead on February 18.

President Akufo-Addo said the government would do everything on its part to give the footballer a “dignified exit.”

“It is my duty and responsibility as President to make sure that happens,” he said when he received a delegation of the family of the late footballer at the Jubilee House, Accra,

Kurt Okraku, the president of the Ghana Football Association, led the team that visited him to formally inform him of their family member's terrible passing.

The President who described the late footballer as an “exceptional athlete and a gift to our nation”, noted that the news surrounding his death was a torturous experience for a lot of Ghanaians “because initially we were made to understand he was alright and then came the defining news that he had been called by the Almighty.”

He characterised Atsu's passing as a tragedy for his family, his neighbourhood, and the nation.

“I want to express to you his family and the sporting football fraternity of Ghana, my deep condolences for what has happened…..and I speak not just for myself but the entire 31 million people of our country.

“Our responsibility is to give you as much support as we can. We can never erase the loss of this very brilliant man.

“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 sports in general,” he said.

A monument in honour of the deceased football player was requested by his family.

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