VEEP Tells Black Stars: The Insults Are Not Insults Of Anger But Insults Encouragement

Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has told the Black Stars that the whole of Ghana is behind them in spirit and encourages them to bring home the trophy despites invectives from some soccer fanatics. �If you see the streets of Accra, there is no traffic, everybody is glued to the TV, listening to the radio and urging you (players) on. Sometimes we (Ghanaians) expect so much from you that, then we start insulting you (Players). But the insult is not an insult of anger; it�s an insult of encouragement� �So when you hear that they are insulting you, then you (Players) should know that the people are not excited and they want you to succeed. So that is the thanks that I bring from the people.� he said this when he met the Stars in camp in Nelspruit, South Africa. According Vice President Amissah-Arthur, the Stars should make the nation proud and the thousands of supporters who have trooped inn to give them the maximum support they required ahead of their semi-final match with Burkina Faso. �There are a number of officials here, private citizens who have left everything to follow you. I hear that there are one thousand Ghanaians who are moving from place to place to encourage you and to provide direct support. So apart from the twenty four million supporters home, there are a number of supporters who are here in this country (South Africa) to provide you with support,� he inspired. With a dazzling beam on the face of the Vice President whiles interacting with the team in camp, he assured them of their winning bonus. �The other aspect of the support and I am sure that the leader of the delegation knows what to do this evening after the match. We (Government) have brought everything and their lying comfortably in his (Omane Boamah) room. So at the end of the match, we know that victory will be yours, victory will be ours and he (Omane Boamah) will also do his part of the bargaining and as the FA President said, there are no frowning faces here, everybody is happy,� Amissah Arthur said. He however tasked the players to make history since its overdue Ghana lift the prestigious cup of the continent. �Thirty one year is a long time after all the exploit of the last two world cups and the great work that you did here in South Africa during the 2010 world cup. It is time for us to finish off all the sacrifices that you (Players) have made by bring the AFCON trophy to Accra and we (Government) are planning a fantastic welcome for you when you carry the cup to Accra,� he added. Ghana is eager to reach their second Africa Cup of Nations final in three years but must first get past Burkina Faso in the semi-final on Wednesday. Both teams are meeting in the last four for the first at the Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday.