MILLS REWARDS SHINNING STARS

Gyan
Ghana's President, John Atta Mills, has rewarded members of the country's team to the 2010 World Cup with national honours and a cash gift of $20,000 each for reaching the last eight of the tournament.

The Black Stars of Ghana became only the third African team after Cameroon and Senegal to qualify for the quarter-final of the World Cup. The youngest team at the World Cup went ahead to lose to Uruguay 4-2 on penalties after a shootout as scores were tied at 1-1 even after extra-time.

President Mills said the team did Africa proud by its performance in South Africa when he hosted them. 'You did not win the World Cup but, through your performance, you carried high the flags of not only Ghana but Africa,' Mills said Tuesday.

Before the reception at the presidential Castle, the Black Stars embarked on a victory parade through the streets of the country's capital city of Accra.

On Monday, thousands of Ghanaian fans were at the airport in Accra for over four hours to give the team a heroic welcome from South Africa.