Blame Mills if Black Stars fail to win Africa Cup - NPP MP

Accra, Jan. 26, GNA - The Member of Parliament for Atwima Mponua, (NPP) Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, on Tuesday said Ghanaians should blame President John Atta Mills if the Black Stars fail to win the Cup in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

Mr Asiamah explained that the removal of Mr Rashid Pelpuo, as Minister for Youth and Sports at this time of the competition would definitely go a long way at lowering morale in the Stars camp, particularly when he has not been re-assigned.

The MP was contributing to a congratulatory statement read at the resumed sitting of Parliament on Tuesday by Mr Stephen M. E. Ackah, Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports to the Black Stars for reaching the semi-final stage of the competition.

Mr Asiamah said although he had no control over the reshuffling powers of the President, he felt Mr Pelpuo should have been allowed to stay on to the end of the tournament before his removal is announced.

He, however, congratulated the Stars for their sterling performance even though the team started the tournament on a shaky note and hoped that they would reach the finals and subsequently come home with the Cup.

Mr Alban S. Bagbin, Majority Leader said the performance of the young players currently in camp of the Stars was a demonstration that they were ever ready to take up the leadership mantle of the team.

He urged the team to continue to put up their best to prove to the world that it was not only age that plays football but experience and good technical orientation could lead to good performance on the field of play.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader said playing without most of the key players of the national team and winning two out of three matches was an achievement that deserved commendation from every well

meaningful Ghanaian. He said the performance of the team was even more commendable when they managed to beat Angola, the host nation who were touted to reach the finals of the competition and hoped tat the injured players would

recover to form a formidable team for the June 2010 World Cup competition.

Mr Ackah said it would be unfair to gloss over the performance of the Black Stars, particularly when they were not given a dog's chance in the competition after they lost their first match to the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire. 26 Jan. 10