Ghana flag euphoria grips SA 2010

Writing from Johannesburg, sportscaster Yaw Ampofo-Ankrah takes an unusually spiritual look at the chances of Ghana's Black Stars against Uruguay in quarterfinals of 2010 Fifa World Cup Finals.

"In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it," Barack Obama quote from his February 10, 2007 Presidential announcement.

On numerous occasions, I have heard prominent Africans say that the only difference between Ghana and America is that America is a century ahead of Ghana. True or false? Harsh reality or exaggerated view? So does the flag of Ghana have mystical powers?

We may all have our own answers and interpretations to these frustrating questions but there is a powerful and mysterious phenomenon unfolding here at the 2010 World Cup Finals that has NEVER been witnessed before in the previous SIXTEEN editions.

It is the obsession to sign the red,gold and green flag of Ghana. It may appear all too simplistic and even romantic but WHY is President Jacob Zuma so keen to sign his best wishes on the Ghana flag along with his predecessor Thabo Mbeki? What about the former Kotoko (1968) and Black Stars (1969) and most recently coach of Bafana Bafana Carlos Alberto Parreira?

Thousands of ordinary Ghanaians also put pen to flag in Ghana where the flag tour started in May 2010. They are not the only ones. Caf President Issa Hayatou has also signed Ghana's flag, as has communications director Suileman Habuba, Economist and CAN 2008 chairman Dr. Kofi Amoah, the sons of reggae legend Bob Marley and of course President Atta Mills....the first head of State to endorse his blessings.

This is not the first time an African team has fought to the quarter finals so again i ask WHY? Maybe we should start from the very basics. What does the flag of Ghana represent? Our fathers and history tells us that the Gold stands for the abundant mineral wealth of the land, the red is for the blood spilt in fighting for independence and the green is for the rich vegetation. The black star is for the emancipation and unity in the struggle against colonialism, attainment of independence and even a symbol of the heavens.

Let us look at the similarities between the Ghanaian and American flags. The stripes are symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun." Red is for the blood of the patriots and those that continue to fight for the country. The white for the Purity and innocence of the American faith. The blue Blue is for justice and perseverance.

There is no dispute that America was foundered as a Christian nation. Ghanaian scholars and historians cannot agree about Ghana. But do soccer fans really care as long as their team wins?

The stripes come from a verse in the Bible in Isaiah 53.5- By his stripes we are healed.

This verse is quoted again in 1 Peter 2.24. In the Crucifixion account, Jesus was whipped 39 times, and the wounds appeared in the form of stripes. So the stripes on the American flag also represent Jesus being wounded for mankind so that they be free from their sins. Concerning the stars on the flag, there is a verse in Daniel 12 about the righteous shining as the stars. Each of the 13 original states had a destiny to shine as the stars of heaven.

If like me you believe that the spiritual and physical worlds now and again agree to walk the same road of destiny, then you may also agree that unlike Ghana, Americans have taken their destiny into their own hands. So how come Ghana beat the USA to advance?

All that has passed before, will pale into comparison to all that is about to happen. No, the sinner that i am dare not make any prophetic declarations nor am i going to pretend to be a football expert.

I will however let my emotional and patriotic juices flow because it feels so good.

There is a genuine feeling within me that the first World Cup on African soil is about to deliver something the world has been waiting for.

Should Ghanaians, Africans and the world dare to believe? Yes we should folks.

Ghana's President Atta Mills seems to think so when i interviewed him. "There is no reason why we cannot win the World Cup, we can do it if we believe we can." Spoken in his now all too distinct preacher's tone.

So what about those who believe in numbers of destiny? This is the 17th World Cup in the year 2010 in the 6th and 7th months. My probing revealed that, numerologically speaking, the number 7 contains the vibrations of introspection and wisdom. The number 17 is the exploration of wisdom, but also vibrates to the number 8 (1+7=8), ambition and accomplishment.

So does it mean that the number six or the month of June, which falls short of the number seven, stands for things that fall short of God's standards because the number seven stands for completeness from God’s standpoint? will it work against Ghana or Uruguay?

Interestingly, the number six in the Bible seems to be associated with God's enemies. A Philistine man of the Rephaim was of "extraordinary size," and his "fingers and toes were in sixes." (1 Chronicles 20:6) King Nebuchadnezzar erected a golden image 6 cubits in breadth and 60 cubits high, which God's servants refused to bow down to. (Daniel 3:1-23) Folks i honestly do not know what this means but i can tell you about Friday the 2nd from my walk with Muslim friends.

Called Juma in Arabic, Friday is the sacred day of Muslims. Friday is sacred for Muslims because, Muslims believe that the prophet Muhammed said,"the best day on which the sun rises is Friday.On it Adam was created,on it he was expelled from paradise.

For Christians, good Friday is considered good to those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross on a Friday during passover to pay the price required from God the Father for the sins of mankind. So will it be a good Friday for Milovan Rajevach or Oscar Tabarez?

All the above may tell us little or nothing about Friday's encounter. The facts cannot be found in any holy book. It is clear that the Black Stars will now have to discharge the highly honourable and well deserved responsibility of representing Africa and the African Diaspora in the next stages of the World Cup says former South African president Thabo Mbeki.

Asamoah Gyan has scored three times in South Africa, and also netted at the 2006 World Cup. He needs one more to match Roger Milla's African record of five career World Cup goals.

Interestingly no African side has ever won a World Cup knock-out match without the game going to extra-time.

This will be the first senior international between the two teams. The Black Satellites side that won the Fifa Under-20 World Cup last year drew 2-2 with Uruguay in the group stage. If the same should happen and the Stars advance on penalties, the omens may be good after all.

Since the experts seem to have said and written it all, my attempt at an alternative preview may arouse or put you to sleep. I make no apologies for that. So get those flags out and yell Go Black Stars....Go!!!

(Yaw Ampofo-Ankrah is also the creator of SA 2010 Fans Diaries on etv SA & Ghana)