Accra, July 6, GNA - Parliament on Tuesday congratulated the Black Stars for their gallant performance at the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament in South Africa.

The Black Stars arrived home at exactly 11:20 hours on Monday on board South African Airways flight to a hearty welcome by thousands of soccer fans and Government Officials at the Kotoka International Airport. Members called on the Leadership of Parliament to invite the Stars to the House for them to welcome them home.

Mr E. K. Ackah, Chairman of the Select Committee on Youth and Sports, who presented a statement on the floor of Parliament, said the defeat inflicted so much pain not only in the hearts of Ghanaians but the entire African Continent and indeed those in the Diaspora.

He commended the Technical Team; Management; Planning Committees; the people of Africa, especially South Africans and various organisations, whose diverse contributions catapulted Ghana to the quarter-final stage. He said the Stars put behind them all the challenges, held the bull by the horns and proved the sceptics wrong.

Mr Ackah said this was an achievement that could never be forgotten "and as a nation we have to give the Team, the gallant warriors a resounding and a heroic welcome for the feat they have chalked". Mr Rashid Peluo, Deputy Majority Leader, said the names of the players should be printed on concrete slabs to keep their memories alive.