Sale of alcoholic beverages to be banned at Baba Yara Stadium

The Kumasi Venue Organising Committee (KVOC) for the MTN/African Cup of Nation's (CAN) 2008 tournament, has announced that it would place a temporary ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages in and around the Baba Yara Sports Stadium when the competition commences next year. The move, according to the Committee, was in line with FIFA, world's football governing body's regulations, stressing that it was, among others, aimed at ensuring discipline and decency at the Stadium during matches. Mr Ohene Karikari, a member of the KVOC and official of the National Sports Council (NSC), disclosed this at a seminar for sports journalists in the Ashanti Region in Kumasi on Wednesday. The seminar which was organised by the KVOC was designed to brief the participants about the final preparations being made by the Committee to ensure a successful tournament The NSC official called on the public to comply with the directive when it is enforced for an incident-free competition Mr Karikari stated, however, that the NSC might consider lifting the ban after the tournament and that it was imperative that stakeholders cooperated with the KVOC in their own interests. He said "FIFA frowns on drinking and the sale of alcoholic beverages at the stadium during competitions and that those who will flout the regulation will have themselves to blame". On the rehabilitation of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, the NSC official observed that work on the project was steadily progressing, adding; "it is expected that the contractors will hand-over the project soon after completion". Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, Chairman of the KVOC, entreated the media to give the necessary publicity to the tournament to enhance its patronage.