World Cup - Rajevac calls 30 initial squad

Kevin-Prince Boateng has been given his first call-up to a Ghana squad, after being named in the Black Stars' provisional squad for the World Cup.

But the Portsmouth midfielder is still awaiting final approval from Fifa to switch national allegiances, as he has played for Germany at under-21 level.

If he is cleared he could face Germany, who are in Ghana's group along with Australia and Serbia.

Chelsea's Michael Essien is included despite struggling with injury still.

Captain Stephen Appiah has finally recovered from injury and has been included in recent squads for his Italian side Bologna after almost 2 years out of club action.

There is also a return for Inter Milan's Sulley Muntari, who missed the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola following a falling out with coach Milovan Rajevac.

Ghana will have a training camp in France starting on 24 May and will then move to Holland for a friendly on 1 June.

Four days later they face Latvia in Milton Keynes in the UK and the following day depart for South Africa.

An injury-ravaged Ghana team finished as runners-up at the Nations Cup as Rajevac used several players who won the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt in 2009.

Ghana were the only African side to make it into the second of the 2006 World Cup in Germany where they lost to Brazil.

The Ghana Squad:

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingston (Wigan, England) Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions) , Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Basle, Switzerland), Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germnay) Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), John Mensah (Sunderland, England), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek, Egypt), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany), John Pantsil (Fulham, England), Jonathan Mensah (Granada, Spain) Eric Addo (Roda JC, Holland)

Midfielders: Dede Ayew (Arlese Avignon, France) Michael Essien (Chelsea, England) Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy) Agyemang Badu (Udinese, Italy) Stephen Appiah (Bologna, Italy) Anthony Annan (Rosenborg, Norway) Haminu Dramani (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan, Italy) Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Al Sadd, Qatar), Derek Boateng (Getafe, Spain) Bernard Kumordzi (Panionios, Greece) , Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth, England)

Strikers: Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim, Germany) Asamoah Gyan (Rennes, France), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan, Italy), Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland)