Accra, Feb. 04, GNA- Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress on Monday urged the Black Stars to forge ahead, in spite of all odds to win the on-going Ghana 2008 soccer tournament.

In a press release from his Office in Accra, Prof. Atta Mills said:

"When at the beginning of Ghana 2008, I decided to place "High Profile" political activity on the backburner and allow us to support the Black Stars fully with our hearts and minds; I did so believing in the can-do spirit of the Ghanaian.

"I am therefore not surprised that minus our mercurial skipper, Stephen Appiah, and the sending off of stand-in skipper, John Mensah, our Stars were still able to shine so bright that they blinded the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

"It is a source of great joy to me that for the first time since South Africa 96, when we lost to the host nation in the semis and lost to Zambia in the third place match, our Stars have made it to the medal zone of the continent's biggest football tournament." Prof. Atta Mills said "mountain is always steeper at the top and so there is no denying the fact that the opposition will get tougher but it is not an impossible task to breathe life into our "Host and Win" mission.

"The Black Stars are in the medal zone and nothing should stop them from hanging medals around their neck.

"The ultimate is the gold medal and with the kind of determination that was displayed by a 10-man team against no less a side than the Super Eagles, come February 10, Ghanaians should be able to proudly watch President Kufuor hang the gold medals around the necks of the players and by extension around the neck of Ghanaians.

"I am certainly proud to be a Ghanaian and also proud of the players and I cannot wish them anything but Godspeed," Prof. Atta Mills added.