The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, together with the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, have said a prayer for Black Star’s midfielder Christian Atsu. Former president John Dramani Mahama and a host of other public figures, including the former Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, have also said a prayer for him.
News broke yesterday of the missing of the former Chelsea player, following the earthquake that occurred in Turkey.
Meanwhile, several reports received last night indicated that he had been found and had been taken to the hospital.
On his Facebook page, President Akufo-Addo extended the condolence of the country to Turkey and Syria.
He said: “On behalf of the government and people of Ghana, I extend heartfelt condolences to the governments and peoples of Turkey and Syria on the devastation and the tragic loss of lives occasioned by Monday’s earthquake.”
Former president Mahama wrote that “Our hearts and prayers go out to the survivors, and we pray that our fellow Ghanaian, Christian Atsu, is found safe and sound.
“Let’s continue to pray for our brother Christian Atsu and his club director.
The city of Hayat is in the region affected by the earthquake. Let’s continue to pray that God spares their lives.”
The Vice President also posted on his Facebook page: “My thoughts and prayers are with our brother Christian Atsu, all Ghanaians in Turkey and Syria, and the people in these countries following the earthquake. May God protect them all.”
Social media have been inundated with words of prayer and goodwill for the Hatayspor Football Club player, who scored the team only winning goal a day before the earthquake occurred.
CNN REPORT EARTHQUAKE
The devastating earthquake ripped through Turkey and Syria, leaving destruction and debris on each side of the border.
At press time yesterday, the Cable News Network (CNN) had reported that at least 2,835 people had died and rescuers were racing to pull survivors from beneath the rubble.
They described it as one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the region in a century shook residents from their beds at around 4 a.m. on Monday, sending tremors as far away as Lebanon and Israel.
In Turkey, at least 1,762 people have died and several thousand are injured, according to Turkey’s Vice President Fuat Oktay, the report said.
In neighboring Syria, at least 1,073 people have died. According to the Syrian state news agency SANA, 593 people have died across government-controlled areas, mostly in the regions of Aleppo, Hama, Latakia, and Tartus.
The “White Helmets” group, officially known as the Syria Civil Defense, reported 480 deaths in opposition-controlled areas. Much of northwestern Syria, which borders Turkey, is controlled by anti-government forces amid a bloody civil war that began in 2011.
BBC REPORT
At the same press time, the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) had published that, the initial magnitude 7.8 tremor in southeastern Turkey early on Monday was followed by magnitude 7.6 earthquake hours later amid several aftershocks.
The US Geological Survey said the initial tremor was centred about 33km (20 miles) from Gaziantep, a major city and provincial capital, the report added.
BBC further reported that at least 6,445 people rescued from collapsed buildings in Turkey, according to Disaster and Emergency Management Authority.
The agency said at least 5,606 buildings have been destroyed after the quakes hit southeastern Turkey.
