Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, MP for South Dayi constituency has apologised unreservedly to Asamoah Gyan after his claims that he intentionally missed his extra-time penalty against Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup.
The NDC MP alleged that Gyan's political biases influenced the striker's performances on international duty.
His allegations come after Gyan was named on the manifesto committee of vice president Mahamudu Bawumia for the 2024 elections.
"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.”
Asamoah Gyan intentionally missed those penalties both at African cup and World Cup because NDC was in power - Nelson Este kwame [ MP for south Dayi]. pic.twitter.com/lsqSVRMEQA
— KOBY BINEY (@BineyKoby) March 1, 2024
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.
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.
— Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Esq. MP. (@etsedafeamekpor) March 2, 2024
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.