Emmanuel France, the 74-year-old international actor, has pleaded with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to consider changing the name of the national team from Black Stars to Bright Stars with a transparent star or golden star instead of the Black Star.
He said the Ghana national team can also consider using the Gye Nyame symbol as their emblem.
In an exclusive interview with yours truly in Accra, the Nigeria based Ghanaian actor who hails from Otublohum in the Royal Ga Mashie state of Greater Accra Region said he does not understand those who chose the name Ghana initially during the first republic.
He has appealed to the current President, HE John Dramani Mahama to consider making some important changes like the name of Ghana to Sikaman, the Black Stars to Bright Stars and chose the golden star instead of the black star in the middle of the national flag or the Gye Nyame symbol.
According to Nii France who has acted, produced and directed a number of movies and drama performances, Ghana is a blessed nation, however the so called founders of the nation led the people astray and that even caused him to land in Nigeria.
The creative dancer and intelligent speaker hinted that Ghana’s name was derived from an old empire, and it would have been better if the name was a reflection of the rich resources of the land, which are gold, cocoa, timber, bauxite, diamond and others.
Emmanuel Nii France who was at the Commission of Enquiry on the 2014 FIFA World Cup sitting at the Accra Sports Stadium called on all Ghanaians to put pressure on the government and the GFA to make the necessary changes before the nation can perform convincingly at international competition.
“Our country’s football problems are spiritual than natural. They are supernatural. The players need to be disciplined and dedicated to the national cause, than think of money and hold the whole continent’s representative at the World Cup to ransom. Why must players and officials fight?†he said.
“Ghana must be Sikaman and the Black Stars must be known as the Bright Stars before we can win the African Cup or the World cup. Its 32 years and things have changed and things are changing, we need to change. Ghana Football needs a revolution at this time that we are at the cross roads. We must not go back, we must move on, move forward with new plans and ideas†he expressed.
The renowned actor who is holidaying and conducting research in Ghana prayed that the government would not invest only in football, but invest more in the less financed sports disciplines as not every Ghanaian loves football.
According to him, if the other disciplines are performing well, definitely the Bright Stars would shine. “How can a Black Star shine?†He asked jokingly. “It must be Bright Star†He answered himself.
By: Sammy Heywood Okine
Do you think it is a good idea to change of the name of the Black Stars? Which name do you think suits the team best? Do you think Bright Stars is good? Make your views known in the box below: