4 reasons why Akufo-Addo has 'destroyed' Black Stars with his good intentions

President Akufo-Addo might have called for Asamoah Gyan to rescind his decision on retirement but it is the belief of YEN.com.gh that the president has done more harm than good.

Ghanaian footballer, Asamoah Gyan, in the course of less than 72 hours, hinted about resigning from the national team on May 20, 2019, only to tell the whole world two days later that he had rescinded his decision due to a conversation with President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Like previous presidents, Akufo- Addo called to speak with the footballer about rejoining the national team because he, Gyan, had caused a “national disquiet” with his letter on retirement.

The president made the call in good faith, trying to act like a father identifying what was good for his people and working to get it.

But Akufo-Addo has sent Ghana right onto the path to hell with his good intentions. These are some reasons why the president made a mistake.

1. The president has forced the hand of the national team coach

Kwesi Appiah, a man who has the presidency to thank for his appointment as national team boss, will now be forced to take Asamoah Gyan to AFCON 2019.

We are not saying Appiah originally intended to drop Gyan. We are saying that unless Gyan gets significantly injured during the friendlies before the tournament, Kwesi Appiah has no choice but to include him in the final list of players. The involvement of the president is a subtle command.

2. The other players in the camp now know who Gyan has in his camp

It will be foolish to think the rest of the players in the Black Stars camp have not already thought about the preferential treatment Gyan has gotten from the presidency.

Any of them would be thinking “what if it were me?” This is not a good ingredient for team unity.

3. Whoever would have been captain instead of Gyan has been disrespected

Andre Ayew was thought to be the man who was going to inherit the captain’s armband instead of Gyan. Now, his authority and confidence has been compromised.

Gyan might still not be the captain and matters will be worse if he is made captain. But for Ayew, the idea that he is the one leading this group of young men into battle has been unnecessarily hurt.

4. We are continuing a bad tradition

The situations in which grown men threaten or actually leave the senior national team only for presidents to talk to them, is a silly thing.

The presidents who have done that have not acted wisely because they only sought to make themselves popular by delving into matters in which they are not needed.

The players who have counted on presidents to call them after retirement threats are a childish bunch.