There have been rumors that Black Stars forward Christian Atsu has gone missing in Turkey in the aftermath of Monday’s earthquake. Former President John Dramani Mahama has asked Ghanaians to keep him in their prayers and to keep an eye out for him.
The former president sent out the following message through Twitter: “Let’s continue to pray for our brother, Christian Atsu, and his club director. The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the area that includes the city of Hayat. Let us continue to pray that God will have mercy on them and spare their lives.
Let’s keep praying for our brother Christian Atsu and the director of the club that he is a part of. The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the area that includes the city of Hayat. Let’s keep praying that God will have mercy on them and spare their lives.
— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama), February 6, 2023
In addition, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo requested prayers for the people of Turkey as well as supernatural protection for Atsu.
May the Lord provide eternal rest to their departed souls. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people who survived, and we hope that our fellow Ghanaian, Christian Atsu, is discovered to be okay. Our hearts go out to you.
February 6, 2023 — Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo)
Others, including the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as well as a few celebrities, have shown their worry over the situation and stated their hope that God will intervene to save the former Chelsea star.
Following the earthquake that occurred in Turkey and Syria, my thoughts and prayers are with our brother Christian Atsu, as well as all Ghanaians living in those countries, and the people of those nations.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, our brother Christian Atsu, as well as all Ghanaians living in Turkey and Syria, are in my thoughts and prayers, as are the people living in these countries.
May God keep each and every one of them safe.
— Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (@MBawumia) February 6, 2023
Many well-known people, like the rapper Guru, the Afro-gospel artist Joseph Matthew, Menaye Donkor Lydia Forson, and others, have extended their prayers to the player.
After being caught up in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred on Monday, the Turkish magazine Star reports that a search-and-rescue mission is currently under way in order to find the former Chelsea star.
Former Blue Atsu, now 31 years old, moved from Saudi side Al-Raed to Super Lig team Hatayspor in the summer of 2018. After the earthquake, some members of his new crew were in need of emergency assistance and had to be rescued by experts.
It is said, however, that former Newcastle United star Atsu and the sporting director for Hatayspor, Taner Savut, are still missing under the debris. The earthquake had a significant impact on the region of Kahramanmaras, which is home to Hatayspor.
In a dramatic rescue effort, two players and members of the technical crew were “taken out of the wreckage.” The search for former Everton loanees Atsu and Savut, who are still out there, continues in its current iteration.
Ahmet Eyup, the goalkeeper for Yeni Malatyaspor, is another football player who has gone missing in addition to him.
