Striker Asamoah Gyan denies killing rapper in human sacrifice

Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan has denied rumors connecting him to the alleged killing of rapper Castro as part of a ritual human sacrifice. Castro and his

Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan has denied rumors connecting him to the alleged killing of rapper Castro as part of a ritual human sacrifice.

Castro and his girlfriend went missing in July while vacationing with Gyan's family. Castro and his girlfriend were believed to have drowned, but their bodies were not recovered, prompting speculation over their disappearance.

On Wednesday, Gyan's family issued a statement calling allegations and rumors that Gyan murdered, sacrificed or had Castro kidnapped "wild and ludicrous."

The statement was read aloud by lawyer Kissi Agyabeng.

Sadly, the expression of empathy during a person’s moment of grief and utter dismay does not sell in the media. What sells in the media, and what indeed sold and is still selling in the media in Ghana are wild allegations and rumours directed especially at Asamoah Gyan – ranging from the absurd – of the imputation of criminality to him in the sense that he either murdered Castro or had him kidnapped – and ending with the ludicrous – that he sacrificed him spiritually to enhance his career.

We have been silent while these wild allegations and rumours have been peddled in the media. We have been silent not because we are concealing anything or that we do not feel the need to fully state what, from our reckoning, had happened in Ada. We have been silent because we did not want to interfere with police investigations and recently the leveling of assault charges against Baffour Gyan and Samuel Anim Addo, sealed our mouths further. Now, we can come out openly because the police have stated their position and the assault charges against Baffour Gyan and Samuel Anim Addo have been dropped and they have been discharged. We will revisit this matter.

In our painful silence, we have been totally dismayed by the fact that the platform was provided for the peddling of these wild and ludicrous allegations and rumours against us. Those to whom the platform was provided offered no evidence whatsoever to back their statements. And indeed, the allegation of spiritual sacrifice can by no stretch of the imagination be propped up.

Gyan is the captain of the Ghanaian national team and a member of the club Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates. His goal in extra time against the United States in the 2010 World Cup sent Ghana through to the quarterfinal.