Celebration Erupts In London After Black Stars Seal World Cup Place

Story by Appiah Kusi Adomako and Sylvia Arthur, Whats On Ghana Magazine, London

London Friday 24th June, 2006- Ghanaians in London could not control their ecstasy when the Black Stars beat the world’s super power the United States of America yesterday in Nuremburg in the FIFA World Cup.

Shortly after the match had ended Ghanaians, African nationals and Europeans thronged the streets of North London to celebrate the victory of the only surviving African nation in the world cup to have qualified for the next stage.

Ekuabanz Paradise, a Ghanaian-owned restaurant and bar located at 651 High Road, Tottenham was where hundreds of Ghanaians went to watch the match of destiny. Shortly after the final whistle, Ghanaians and Ghana supporters from North, South, East and West London began streaming to Ekuabanz to celebrate. The singing, dancing and general merry making lasted for more than five hours and blocked the main road leading to Seven Sisters and the City of London.

In East London near Upton Park close to West Ham Football Stadium, Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians rushed to buy Ghana jerseys and caps after the match. Africans living in East London too could not hide their joy but also joined in the celebration waving the Black Star flag, the only African national banner still being waved across the city.

In other parts of England, Manchester, Bristol, Surrey, Essex, Coventry, Birmingham and Nottingham the celebration was the same. One Nigerian lady remarked, ‘Today’s victory for Ghana is like David beating almighty Goliath. Now infinite America has fallen before the finite Ghana’. Martin Owusu Ansah, Ghanaian who resides in Manchester sent an SMS message which read ‘We have crossed the Red Sea by beating America. We will conquer Brazil when we get Jericho’.

Before the match with Czech Republic people had not been buying the Ghana strip and flag but at the time of filling this report Ghana flag and the jerseys had run out of supply most shops in London.

So far Ghana has a clean record in this World Cup. Ghana was the first African nation to have won its independence; it was the first African nation to have qualified for the 2006 World Cup; it became the first African nation to have won two consecutive matches in the tournament. And yesterday Ghana became the only African nation to have qualified for the second round.

It is said that Britain is the second home of Ghanaians because more than one million Ghanaians live in the UK. The implication for Ghana’s progress in the World Cup is obvious. Around the globe people are now talking about Ghana.

Source: Story by Appiah Kusi Adomako and Sylvia Arthur, From Whats On Ghana Magazine (www.whatsonghana.com), London