It is a sorrowful Friday. Many prayed against this day, hoping for a miracle, but that was not the case.

Ghanaians bid farewell to Christian Atsu, a former player of the Black Stars today

The Independent Ghana was at the State House in Accra where the remains of the 31-year-old laid in state.

Family, friends, government officials, and colleagues in the sports industry gathered to mourn one of Africa's brightest stars.

The immediate and extended families of Christian Atsu could not hold back their tears as they watched what remained of their beloved lying in the casket draped with a Ghana flag.

President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Former President John Dramani, Staff of the Sports Ministry headed by Hon Mustapha Ussif, Black Stars Head coach, Chris Hughton and international players including Emmanuel Adebayor all took turns to file past the remains of Atsu to pay their last respects.

The head of the Atsu Twasam family read the former player’s biography, which entailed his journey from birth to death to the hearing of all who gathered.

The widow, Marie-Claire Rupio, devastated by her husband’s death could not muster courage to finish her tribute. Other tributes came from Atsu’s children, siblings and the Turkish

community.