In a discussion about finding a replacement for the late Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejisu, John Kumah, former president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi, drew a parallel between football and politics.
Nyantakyi compared Kumah’s significance in politics to that of soccer icon Lionel Messi, highlighting the need for a candidate of similar calibre to fill his shoes.
He stressed the importance of selecting a suitable replacement for Kumah who possesses the same high level of skill and capability.
“If Lionel Messi plays a match and gets injured, will you take anybody at all to go and replace him? You need Cristiano Ronaldo, Mbappe, or Haaland, you understand?” Nyantakyi said this in an interview with GhOne TV on April 4, 2024.
The former GFA president, who claims to have been approached several times by residents of Ejisu since 2012, expressed his willingness to vie for the MP position.
Describing himself as the “Ronaldo” equivalent, he suggests that he has the requisite skills to step into the void left by Kumah’s passing.
“I am Ronaldo and I think that I should be brought in to replace Lionel Messi,” he added.
The NPP has announced that the nominees will undergo vetting on April 6, 2024.
Following this, more than 1000 party delegates are anticipated to take part in the primary on April 13, 2024, to select a candidate for the upcoming by-election.