Abedi Ayew, former Black Stars captain
Solar Ayew, the younger brother of Ghanaian football legend Abedi Ayew, commonly known as Abedi Pele, has revealed how his brother’s fame helped him escape police custody during one of their trips to Togo.
According to Solar, Abedi’s immense popularity at the time led to his release after they found themselves in trouble with the Togolese police.
Speaking in an interview on Dan Kwaku Yeboah TV, Solar recounted how they refused to pay a required fee to enter a town, which led to their arrest.
“I remember travelling with Abedi in Togo. We got to a place where the bridge over the water was damaged, so we had to pay 60,000 CFA to use a diverted route. But I told Abedi not to pay because we had a car that could pass through the water. So we went through the water, but we got arrested,” Solar narrated.
He explained that although the police officer in charge was a fan of Abedi Pele, he didn’t initially realize he had arrested the three-time CAF Player of the Year. Once the officer identified Abedi, he immediately ordered his release.
“The police commander had his office filled with magazines featuring pictures of Abedi, but he had no idea it was him they had arrested. As soon as he realized it was Abedi Ayew, they released him instantly,” Solar added.
Solar used the incident to highlight how other countries value Abedi Pele more than his own homeland. He called for Ghana to properly honor its legends while they are still alive, instead of waiting until they pass away.
“When we go to Côte d’Ivoire, Abedi is escorted by policemen, but in Ghana, he doesn’t receive that same respect. Abedi has done a lot for this nation, and that’s what worries me. Look at someone like Mohammed Polo. When Opoku Afriyie passed away, we didn’t do anything significant to honour him as a legend. If we’re not careful, we’ll fail to acknowledge all our other legends, and that’s very bad for the country,” Solar lamented.
After retiring from football, Abedi Ayew has dedicated himself to developing young talents. He has established a team in Ghana’s Division One League, where he personally nurtures potential stars.
FKA/EK
