Gwollu, (U/W), Jan 15, GNA - Mr Ambrose Dery, Upper West Regional Minister has called Ghanaians to pray for the national football team, the Black Stars to shine and make a mark in the forthcoming African Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup tournaments.

He said the success and determination of the Stars to qualify for such prestigious tournaments calls for the collective effort of all, including prayers, financial support and the necessary motivation to ensure that they achieve the ultimate.

Mr Dery made the call when he addressed a meeting of the newly created Sissala West District at the Gwollu, the district capital at which he enumerated a number of positive achievements the country achieved last year and the numerous developments in the Region since the beginning of the new year.

The Black Stars are among a number of national teams campaigning for laurels in the prestigious African Cup of Nations soccer fiesta, which opens in Cairo, Egypt on Friday.

The Stars have also for the first time qualified for the FIFA World Cup tournament in Germany in June this year. The Minister, himself a staunch football enthusiast said he is making every effort to get the Upper West Region represented in the national Premier league.

Mr Dery said he has put in place a number of plans to get the many but weaker Division One football clubs to merge so as to brighten their chances of qualifying into the Premier League. The Minister is presently holding series of talks with the management of the various Division Two clubs to ensure a successful merger of the clubs.

There has been concern among football enthusiasts in the North about the inability of clubs especially from the region of being represented in the Premier League, citing the success story of the merger of clubs in the Northern Region that culminated in the forming of Real Tamale United Football Club.