According to former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan, his extensive experience puts him in a position to significantly advance sports development in Ghana.
Gyan’s statement comes after his Tuesday announcement that he had been appointed to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s manifesto committee in advance of the 2024 elections.
The 38-year-old will report to Vice President Dr. Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), as chair of the subcommittee on youth and sports.
Using social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Gyan made hints about how his career’s ups and downs have prepared him for this position and emphasized the need for active participation for true change.
Looking back on my career, I believe I have the experience and skills necessary to make a positive impact in sports. I have also experienced highs and lows as well as successes.
“How can we bring about change if we are unwilling to do so?” is a question I ask myself a lot. How can I watch without sitting on the bench and…
“After reflecting on my career, including its highs and lows, mistakes and victories, I believe I have the skills and experience necessary to make a positive impact on sports. How do we bring about change if we do not want it? is a question I always ask myself,” the author wrote.
How can we score without being on the field, and how can we watch without being on the bench? Without sharing our experiences and without a clear path forward, how can we pass on the baton to the next generation and achieve our goals?”
Gyan went on, saying, “I think that by pooling our experiences, we can mold the next generation to be better than us. We have the power to give hope where there is none and to inspire when all hope seems lost.
“Sports are all I have ever known, all I will ever know, and all I will ever love. Together, let us improve sports’ direction and future.”
On June 20, 2023, during the 30th Afreximbank Annual Meeting, Gyan announced his official retirement from football.
The former forward for Sunderland and Stade Rennes finished his career with 51 goals, making him Ghana’s all-time top scorer and the second-most-capped player in his nation.
With six goals in three tournaments, Asamoah Gyan is also the record holder for most goals scored by an African player at the FIFA World Cup.
