ACCRA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Mills in his New Year message asked his countrymen to forge a united front and rally solidly behind the government to build on the solid foundation laid in 2009 for national prosperity.

In the message, President Mills gave hope to the citizenry, and gave the assurance that the government was more than convinced of its ability to transform the county.

He said the government was in a better position to create jobs, invest in people, expand the frontiers of democracy and to move the nation in the right direction in an open, honest and transparent manner.

The president reminded Ghanaians that 2010 was the second year in a four-year journey for his presidency, stressing the need for hard work, strong faith and determination to turn the challenges into opportunities.

"Let's forge ahead in unity," President Mills said, adding that faith and commitment are national ideals for a brighter future.

The president urged the youth to be inspired by the shining example of the victorious national under-20 football team, the Black Satellites, and to emulate their "sheer determination and the willingness to die for the nation."

"This is the kind of spirit which should move us in whatever we do," said the president.

He encouraged the Senior National Team, the Black Stars to be guided by the performance of the Black Satellites as they approached their continental assignment in Angola 2010 and at the World Cup tournament in South Africa.

President Mills urged Ghanaians to rally a solid support for the Black Stars in their determination to lift the flag of Ghana high in their assignments.

As the commander in chief of the armed forces, President Mills paid tribute to Ghana's police personnel on peacekeeping assignment, praising them for their sacrifices at a time when they should be with their families.

He wished Ghanaians a fruitful and fulfilling New Year, and invoked divine blessings for Ghanaians as he repeated the words of the national anthem "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana."