President John Mahama has prophetically declared 2014 as the year of "many good things to happen" in Ghana and admonished all Ghanaians to "claim it."

In a New Year's message on Tuesday, the president conceded 2013 was a difficult year but said he is "proud to lead Ghana into an era of prosperity and development."

While agreeing with the sentiments of the Council of State that there is a "diminishing sense of nationalism" the president said he is ready to bring the spark back into the lives of Ghanaians.

He said government is ready to foster better partnership with the citizens and other marginalised groups in the country to ensure growth and development.

He charged all Ghanaians to "think and work for Ghana" and to create a better bond with each other.

The President also took time to congratulate the Black Stars for the third successive qualification for the World Cup.

Even though the Black Stars are in what some pundits describe as the Group of Death, the president said the Stars shall prevail.

"When the going gets tough, the tough gets going," he stated, adding the Stars will be able to surmount the hurdle and give a  good account of themselves in Brazil next year.