Accra, Aug 1, GNA 96 Donations and contributions embarked upon by Ghanaian residents abroad to the Black Stars keep soaring even after their impressive World Cup campaign came to an end over a month ago. An amount of 797,767,318.74 cedis has so far been received from residents from 35 countries around the world as part of contributions launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and NEPAD through the Ghanaian Missions abroad to assists the Stars in their campaign to their debut at the quadrennial event.

Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and NEPAD on Tuesday announced over 300 million increases in the donation that began about a year ago.

The ministry twice donated 471,225,000.00 cedis to the Stars in October, 2005 and May, 2006 to enable them prepare for the event where Ghana bowed out in the second round after a defeat to the defending Champions, Brazil.

Ms Botchway said the response to the 91Operation Six Points' declared by President John Agyekum Kufuor during the team's qualifiers received an overwhelming response from Ghanaians living abroad that signifyed their desire to the see the Stars succeed in the competition and they rightly did by forcing the pundits to rewrite the script after they defeated the Czech Republic and the United States of America (USA) to qualify from Group E alongside the eventual winners, Italy.

She said she was hopeful that the latest contribution would serve as a moral booster capable of making the Stars strive to higher achievement and outshine their competitors when Ghana hosts the Nations Cup in two years time.

Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports received the donations and gave the assurance that it would be put to good use.

He said the Stars have justified the investment and confidence reposed in them and was buoyant that much would be built on that success to enable the team sell the name of the country further to the rest of the world.