Black Stars unite nation

From the corners of the streets to the fine surroundings of offices, from shops to eateries, and from Parliament to media houses, Ghanaians rallied behind the Black Stars yesterday as football delivered another powerful uniting force for the country.

Long before the Black Stars took to the field in Toronto, Canada, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L clash close to midnight, the country was awash with the national colours in a public show of support for the national team.

From President John Dramani Mahama’s message of encouragement to the team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L clash with Panama to the visit by the Vice-President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and the Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, to the team’s base in Canada, the show of support was total.

In an environment often charged by divisive politics of accusations and counter-accusations, the Black Stars doused the flames of suspicion and antagonism, bridging gaps and divides, and muting forms of hostilities ingrained in the national psyche.

“Play for the flag; go Black Stars go,” President Mahama said in a flyer shared by the presidency, coming as the lead rallying cry as the team began its journey at the 48-nation tournament.

The flyer bore President Mahama hoisting the national flag, while images of team captain Jordan Ayew; star striker, Antoine Semenyo, and other players formed a colourful background.

Former Vice-President and leader of the main opposition New Patriotic Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, also wished the Black Stars success at the five-week global festival in a message accompanied by his image in a Black Stars replica shirt, while the leader of the United Party and former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, said the team “will win and Ghana shall rise again”.

Veep’s delegation

In tangible terms, however, President Mahama dispatched the Vice-President, who was joined by the Chief Justice and some traditional rulers to offer motivational support to the team.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang and Justice Baffoe-Bonnie were accompanied by representatives of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, led by Daasebre Otuo Siriboe II, officials from Ghana’s High Commission led by the High Commissioner, Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, and the leadership of the Ghana Football Association, led by its President, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku.

The delegation engaged with the players and technical team as they finalised preparations for the tournament.

The Vice-President expressed confidence in the team’s ability to make the nation proud, and wished the players and the technical team success in the tournament.

“Ghanaians from every region, community, and household are rallying behind the Ghana Black Stars, confident that they will represent the country with determination, discipline and excellence.

“On behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, the government and the people of Ghana, I wish the team and technical staff every success at the tournament,” Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said.

Formal sector

Back home, formal sector workers responded spontaneously to the national optimistic feeling at the World Cup, as office staff dropped the suits and long sleeves for different shades of Black Stars jerseys.

From the vintage old replica versions of the 1990s and 2000s to the latest design inspired by the spider web, Ghanaians wore their feelings on their bodies literally, shedding off classes.

Beyond these settings, fuel retail outfit, Star Oil, had all the over 2,900 frontline attendants and back stage staff in the replica shirts of the Black Stars at all outlets across the country, while many banks presented a relaxed atmosphere, their staff in casual sportswear in national colours.

The spontaneous culture was further reflected in almost every aspect of national life as the Black Stars replica shirts dominated common wear in town.

Parliament’s support

In Parliament where the legislature lent support to the team through statements on the floor, members were either in Black Stars replica shirts or had a flag in the national colours.

Indeed, Members of Parliament (MPs) put aside partisan differences to rally behind the Black Stars, holding a spirited jama session in the chamber before the match against Panama.

In a brief break from regular proceedings, MPs from both the Majority and Minority caucuses engaged in a colourful display of patriotism, singing patriotic songs, as they chanted in support of the senior national football team.

The jama session ended with MPs rising to their feet to sing patriotic songs as they waved the national colours, reaffirming Parliament's collective support for the Black Stars and expressing hope that the team would make the nation proud at the tournament.

The lawmakers also delivered goodwill messages, urging the Black Stars to remain disciplined, united and focused as they began their World Cup campaign in Toronto, Canada.

The Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Etse Dafeamekpor, started the goodwill messages to galvanise the nation, coming under Order 92 of Parliament to make a statement.

He said football was a social event that united the country and recounted how the name, Black Stars, came about.

Initially called Gold Coast 11, sometime in 1951 when Nkrumah became Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business, he sponsored the team to tour the United Kingdom, where the team endeared itself with their style of play to the British, who are credited with founding football. Upon their return, interest in football soared, he said.

Mr Dafeamekpor said Peki had a football team called the Black Stars, who played on weekends.

A lawyer and native of Peki, Dr Akyea Djamson, used to visit Peki on weekends with  Prime Minister Nkrumah, making the Prime Minister develop interest in the team.

When Ohene Djan was appointed the Sports Minister, he named the Gold Coast 11 the Black Stars and that has become the name of the senior national football team ever since.

The MP for Bosome Freho, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, said all Ghanaians should show patriotism and bring the nation together beyond their differences.

He, however, blamed the failure of Thomas Partey, an influential midfielder in the Black Star, to secure a visa on the World Cup management team set up to facilitate Ghana’s participation in the tournament.

The atmosphere in the Chamber reflected a rare moment of national unity, with members stressing that football remained a unifying force capable of bringing Ghanaians together regardless of political affiliation.

The MPs expressed confidence in the team's ability to perform creditably at the tournament, and encouraged the players to approach every match with determination, commitment and patriotism.

They also appealed to Ghanaians across the country and those living abroad to throw their full support behind the Black Stars throughout the competition, indicating that national support would serve as a source of motivation for the players.

The MP for Builsa, James Agalga, said the Black Stars were among the best in Africa, and expressed the belief that they would do well.

Other MPs that made contributions included the MP for Okere, Daniel Nana Addo-Kenneth, MP for Salaga, Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah, MP for Effia, Isaac Yaw Boamah-Nyarko,

MP for Tamale South and Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Abirem, Charles Asuako Owiredu.