Magnus Rex Danquah, Chief Operating Officer of the CAN 2008 Local Organising Committee, has assured Ghanaians that the programme for the continental football fiesta to be held in Ghana in January is perfectly on course.
"We're working around the clock to ensure a successful tournament. There are no fears about changes in the programme", he told the Statesports in an exclusive interview on Monday.
As part of the public awareness, Mr Danquah said the trophy would be on display during a street carnival that would also feature top musicians and dancers on Saturday. It will start from the LOC Secretariat, through the major streets of the city and end up at James Town.
He said the LOC was working within the projected budget and time frame, hence the need to be cautious not to go beyond their limit.
Mr Danquah he appealed to the sporting public not to compare the CAN 2008 with the 2010 World Cup in South Africa or the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in terms of publicity and advertisement.
"We are not looking at anybody, we have CAF approved programmewhich we are following and everything is on course. Ghanaians and most Africans know that the next African Cup of Nations will be held in Ghana and we are getting ready", he stressed.
Mr Danquah said work on the new Tamale and Essipong, near Sekondi stadia had been completed while the reconstruction of the Ohene Djan in Accra, where the opening ceremony and final game would be organised, and the Baba Yara stadium in Kumasi getting into shape.
He said the publicity had already started would be intensified as the days draw near.
"We have done road shows in Kumasi and Sekondi and that of Accra comes on this Saturday to ginger public awareness", he noted.
He announced that the balloting for the 16 nations would be held in Accra on October 19, with a grand jamboree to be held on September 20.
Source: The Statesman
