Prominent Ghanaian sports journalist Saddick Adams has expressed his frustration with some residents of Somanya for what he sees as an unwarranted sense of entitlement regarding their expectations from Arsenal and Ghanaian football star Thomas Partey.
Saddick Adams has criticised some members of the community, referring to them as ungrateful, and has accused them of not properly acknowledging the contributions Thomas Partey has made to their community.
The source of Saddick Adams’ anger stems from a video in which several residents expressed their discontent with the development projects initiated by Partey in the community.
This video was taken during a community football tournament organized by the Thomas Partey Foundation.
In the video, some residents can be seen confronting Thomas Partey’s father, expressing dissatisfaction with the contributions of his son to the community. These residents demanded more from Partey and attempted to downplay his fame and wealth.
In response, Thomas Partey’s father engaged with the residents and reprimanded them for not appreciating his son’s contributions. He emphasised that Partey would continue to do what he believed was best for himself, his family, and the community.
Saddick Adams, in his reaction to the video on his show, questioned why the community’s residents were directing their demands towards Partey rather than their elected representatives.
He argued that the residents should be seeking support and development from their elected officials, who are responsible for the progress of the community.
While Saddick Adams acknowledged that it would be commendable for Ghanaian football stars to invest significantly in their communities and undertake impactful projects, he emphasised that such initiatives should not be forced upon them.
Instead, he encouraged the community members to focus their efforts on holding their elected representatives accountable, as they are entrusted with the responsibility of community development.
“You are not happy with Partey organising a football gala in the community; do you pay your taxes to him? Do you pay e-levy to him? What did you do for him while he was growing up? Give him time to do what he has planned to do for the community.
“Give him time because you don’t make such demands from your governments. The fact that they make money doesn’t mean all is rosy.
“Someone could be making a lot of money but be using half of that amount to settle health-related issues. Don’t sit somewhere and calculate someone’s wealth,” he questioned.
Meanwhile, Thomas Partey has been ruled out of football for one month due to injury.
The Ghanaian midfielder picked up the injury during Arsenal training and will therefore not be in action for at least three weeks.