Dafeamekpor Apologizes To Asamoah Gyan

NDC Member of Parliament, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, has apologised to former Ghana Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan after his claims that he deliberately missed a crucial penalty in his playing days because of his political affiliation.

Gyan was named on the manifesto committee of the vice president Mahamudu Bawumia recently, prompting the claims by the South Dayi MP that has roundly been condemned.

He told TV XYZ that “there is everything wrong” with Gyan’s decision to serve on the manifesto committee and then went on to claim that “When you are a national figure like that…you have to remain non-partisan. I can reasonably say that it is because of partisan politics that he intentionally missed the penalty; for the government (NDC) to get all the glory, he won’t play to score the penalty.”

The comment has been criticised and the MP has now issued an apology.

“The Black Stars & other national teams have iconically rallied & carried our passions, dreams and aspirations for glory to the world. Upon reflection & calls from people like Kenpong, I retract & unreservedly apologize to Asamoah Gyan, for my comments,” Mr Dafeamekpor wrote on his X platform, March 2.

Gyan missed a crucial penalty in the 2010 world cup against Uruguay that would have made Ghana the first African country to reach the semifinal of the World Cup tournament. It has remained a sticky point in his relationship with Ghanaian football fans, but there was overwhelming support for him in the aftermath of the comment by the MP.

Sports journalist Michael Oti Adjei said, “questioning Asamoah Gyan’s unwavering commitment to Ghana during his distinguished career because of politics is wrong on so many levels.”

Gyan himself has stayed out of the conversation except responding to a comment on X that “maybe the MP wanted an autograph.”

**Rewritten in Detail:**

In a recent development, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, a Member of Parliament representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has issued a sincere apology to Asamoah Gyan, the former captain of the Ghana Black Stars. This comes after Dafeamekpor made controversial remarks suggesting that Gyan deliberately missed a crucial penalty during his football career due to political motivations.

The controversy arose when Gyan was appointed to the manifesto committee of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, sparking criticism from Dafeamekpor, who accused Gyan of compromising his neutrality by engaging in partisan politics. Dafeamekpor insinuated that Gyan’s alleged political affiliations influenced his performance on the field, specifically referencing a significant penalty miss during the 2010 World Cup against Uruguay.

However, facing backlash for his comments, Dafeamekpor took to his platform to retract his statements and extend an unconditional apology to Gyan. He acknowledged the symbolic role of the Black Stars and other national teams in representing the aspirations of the Ghanaian people and expressed regret for his earlier remarks.

The incident in question, Gyan’s missed penalty in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal match, remains a contentious topic among Ghanaian football enthusiasts. Despite this, there has been widespread support for Gyan in response to Dafeamekpor’s comments, with sports journalist Michael Oti Adjei condemning any attempt to politicize Gyan’s dedication to his country.

Throughout this ordeal, Gyan himself has refrained from direct involvement in the public discourse, responding only humorously to one comment on social media. Nonetheless, the incident underscores the intersection of sports and politics in Ghanaian society and serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting athletes’ integrity and commitment to their craft, regardless of political differences.