Diaspora News of Monday, 19 April 2010

Source: Afful,Adolf

Ghanaians in the Diaspora support Black Stars

Ghanaians in the Diaspora have come together in a strong show of support to solicit funds for our Black Stars, the senior national soccer team.

Our Black Stars were the only African team to advance from the group stage during their very first appearance at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, and they were the first team to qualify for 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. These are no small achievements. Our senior national team is poised and determined to prove to soccer enthusiast around the world that Ghana’s Black Stars will be a force to reckon with at the FIFA World Cup Soccer Championship this summer in South Africa.

Soccer is strong uniting force for all Ghanaian. We are a nation endowed with a strong sense of Patriotism and strong commitment to excellence. We have often times wondered why our junior teams can win the FIFA U-17 twice and FIFA U-20 Championship Cup by beating Brazil in 2009, but our senior team, The Black Stars until now and also four years ago have failed to make it to the “big dance “ on the world stage of FIFA World Cup Championship games in spite of their considerable success in the international soccer arena.

The time has come for Ghanaians to start asking themselves how we can support and motivate our senior team, the Blacks to do for Ghana what their younger comrades have done for our beloved country – WIN the FIFA World Cup Soccer Championship. We must continue to cheer but most importantly we must also support them with our individual financial DONATIONS.

In 1999 when our women’s senior soccer team, The Black Queens came to participate in FIFA Women’s World Cup Soccer Championship games in the US, a similar effort by Ghanaians in the US and Canada came together with a similar objective. Our collective efforts resulted in Ghanaians in the Diaspora raising over $55,000. The donated money help to provide additional training for our players in Minnesota including a $25,000 direct cash contribution to the players.

We are asking all Ghanaians in the Diaspora to donate $50 or whatever you can afford to help us reach our goal. You can donate electronically through PayPal or write a check or money order to the mailing address below. The list of donors will be posted on this website and a record of all contributions and disbursements will be available to all donors upon request.

The establishment of this fundraising drive is a grassroots effort by Ghanaians in the Diaspora, led by Ambassador Koby Koomson (former Ghana Ambassador to the USA), to support of our Ghana Black Stars’ 2010 World Cup campaign to win this prestigious Championship Cup in South Africa

Other Ghanaians who have lent their support to this cause include Mr. Arday Ardayfio of North Dakota, Mr Peter Klu of Maryland, Mr. Adolf Afful (DC/Maryland/Virginia Metro Area), Atty Derek Akofi (Southern California), Araba Aikins (Houston, TX), Kwesi Ben Ayeh Addo (Atlanta, GA), John Henry Assabill (Chicago, IL), Ivy Quarshie (New York, NY), David Owusu-Hemeng (Dallas/ Fort Worth), Mr. Kyei Amoako (Columbus, OH), Hon. James Tetteh (Portland, OR), Dr. Elizabeth Sarkodie-Mensah (Boston, MA), Justice Kofi (Beijing, China), as well as the Presidents of various Council of Ghanaian Associations in the Diaspora.

This collective effort came about as a result of the achievements of our Black Stars during recent international soccer competitions vis a vis the need to mobilize support from around the world for our national team. This effort is designed to provide cash incentives to motivate our gallant young men representing our dear country at the FIFA World Cup competition in South Africa this year, to win the cup.

Our Black Stars is a non-governmental organization that was setup by ordinary Ghanaians in the Diaspora who wish to show their appreciation by providing financial incentives for our gallant and indomitable Black Stars in their quest for the FIFA World Cup championship.

. Our motto is One Nation, One Patriotism, One Glory.