In a candid revelation, former Ghanaian football star Asamoah Gyan has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of leveraging his fame to secure votes in the 2024 general elections. Gyan, who is Ghana’s all-time leading goal scorer, expressed his sentiments during an Instagram Live session, where he elaborated on his brief stint with the NPP before stepping down from political involvement.
Gyan was initially appointed to head the “Youth and Sports” sub-committee for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign, the NPP’s presidential candidate. However, he resigned from his role weeks before the election, citing his desire to focus on humanitarian work. His decision came after a viral video showed an altercation between him and an NPP official, highlighting tensions that might have influenced his departure from the party.
“They [NPP] used my popularity to get votes from the people,” Gyan stated, suggesting that his association with the party was more about exploiting his celebrity status for political gain rather than a genuine commitment to political ideology or governance. Despite his contributions to the campaign, including public appearances and endorsements, Gyan now feels that his involvement led to a loss of respect within Ghana, especially following the NPP’s electoral defeat.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who lost to John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), received 4,735,687 votes (41.40%), while Mahama secured 6,499,082 votes (56.81%). Gyan’s accusations come in the wake of this significant defeat for the NPP, pointing towards internal issues and perhaps a miscalculation in how they managed high-profile endorsements.
The backlash from his political involvement, coupled with his feelings of exploitation, has led Gyan to reaffirm his commitment to staying out of politics. He has since declared that he will not affiliate with any political party, choosing instead to focus on his humanitarian initiatives and support for Ghanaian youth through the Asamoah Gyan Foundation.
Public reaction on social media platforms like X has been mixed, with some users expressing disappointment in Gyan for initially associating with the NPP, while others sympathize with his situation, understanding the pressures of political involvement on public figures. The discourse around Gyan’s comments reflects broader discussions on the role of celebrities in politics and how their influence is utilized by political entities.