After public backlash, Wakaso retracts NDC/NPP comments
Midfielder had accused parties of ‘‘ruining” the Black Stars with politics
The Black Stars midfielder Mubarak Wakaso has apologised after widespread backlash for blaming both of Ghana’s top political parties for the national team’s failure to win any silverware since 1982.
Speaking in an interview with Angel TV, Wakaso had said the team does not get full “moral” support from the New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress because of their own agendas.
‘‘I will speak the truth today,” the player said. “Do you know our problem about the game?
“Maybe we know but we don’t want to say it. But I think politics ruins the Blacks Stars at times.
“When NDC is in power, NPP doesn’t want us to win and vice versa,” he said.
Hasty retreat
His comments divided opinion on social media as fans and journalists alike took sides.
But as the backlash grew, Wakaso took to Twitter to withdraw his statement and apologise to Ghanaians.
He explained that the public response was forcing him to retract the statement.
Wakaso, who now plays for Chinese side Jiangsu Suning, has been capped 58 times by the Black Stars since he made his debut in 2012. He has scored 12 goals for the Black Stars in that time.
Atsu Boye
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