Turkey Earthquake: Christian Atsu’s Body Arrives Ghana

• Family, GFA officials receive corpse at Accra airport 
• Ghana’s Armed Forces convey coffin to military morgue

The remains of the former Ghanaian international footballer Christian Atsu, who died in the devastating earthquake in Turkey two about two weeks ago were flown home to Accra on Sunday, the country’s Foreign Ministry said.

The Ministry said the flight landed in Accra late on Sunday, and his coffin was carried away by members of Ghana’s Armed Forces who transported to an unnamed military hospital morgue

His remains were accompanied from Turkey by family members and Ghana’s Ambassador to Turkey, Francisca Ashietey-Odunton and the plane landed at 19:25 GMT in Accra where it was met by relatives, government officials and representatives of the Ghana Football Association (GFA)

The Foreign Ministry’s had earlier released a statement saying; “The remains will be accompanied by his family and Ghana’s ambassador to Turkey on a Turkish Airlines flight and will arrive in Accra at 7.40pm Sunday.”

According to the Ministry, Atsu’s older brother and twin sister were present at the site of the rescue when his body was recovered.

Atsu was found dead on Saturday under his home in southern Turkey with officials confirming that over 45,000 people have so far lost their lives across south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria in the disaster.

The 31-year-old winger, who played 65 times for Ghana’s national team and helped the country to reach the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final, had career stints Premier League sides, Everton and Newcastle.

Speaking at Kotoka airport in the capital Accra, Ghana’s Vice-President Mahamudu Bawmia said; “We hoped against hope, every day that passed, we prayed and prayed. But alas, when he was found, he was no more.”

Bawmia, who described the late footballer as much loved and would be sorely missed, said; “It is a painful loss, a very painful one”, promising that Atsu would be given a “befitting” burial.

Atsu had been missing since the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake on February 6 caused the collapse of his apartment in Antakya, in hard-hit Hatay province.

Meanwhile, tributes have been pouring in for the late player. On Saturday, his wife Marie-Claire Rupio and their three children joined fans at St James’ Park for a minute’s silence before Newcastle’s Premier League match against Liverpool. Atsu played for Newcastle from 2016 to 2021.

Atsu’s face was shown on the big screen and away fans chanted “you’ll never walk alone”, before breaking into applause. Atsu scored the last of his 33 career goals for Hatayspor in Turkey’s Super Lig on 5 February, hours before the quake struck.

Also sending a condolence message to the family, Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, said; “Football has lost one of its finest ambassadors, one who will be difficult to replace.”

Similarly on Sunday, Ghana’s Black Stars captain, Mohammed Kudus paid tribute to his former teammate after scoring for Dutch side Ajax, removing his jersey to reveal a white shirt with “RIP Atsu” written boldly on it.

In a related development, the charity, Arms Around The Child, hailed Atsu, who has been an ambassador for the organisation since 2016, saying he had been the “main benefactor” of a school in Ghana that supports abandoned children, orphans, the chronically ill and those rescued from trafficking.

They described Atsu as “a young boy from poverty in Ghana who followed his dreams and used his talent and platform to help others”.

In their homage to the late Atsu, his Turkish top-flight club, Hatayspor club tweeted; “There are no words to describe our sadness. We will not forget you, Atsu. Peace be upon you, beautiful person.”

Caught up in a 7.8-magnitude quake that rocked Turkey and Syria on 6 February, killing more than 45,000 people in both countries, initial reports had indicated the former Chelsea and Newcastle player had been rescued a day after the quake, but it turned out to be false and his body was found on Saturday, February 18, 2023 under the rubble.