One Dead, Ten Arrested at Soccer Festa

The 26th MTN African Cup of Nations, currently underway in Ghana, recorded its first victim on Sunday when one hour after the spectacular victory of the Black Stars over the Guineans, a young man died in the heat of the jubilation.

The 'irresponsible jubilation' of the 25-year-old unemployed, based at Dome, a suburb of Accra cost him his life at the 37 Military Hospital.

Police sources have also confirmed to DAILY GUIDE that at least 20 people have so far been arrested for pick-pocketing and ticket racketeering after just two days of the three-week tournament.

According to sources from Accra and Sekondi, the suspects, 10 from each city, who are currently in police cells, would be prosecuted soon.

In the Dome incident, Nana Boakye, the victim, popularly known as 'Skylier' was said to have joined in the euphoria that gripped the city soon after the match by riding his motorbike at top speed along the principal streets of the town.

He met his untimely death after he crashed his bike into a parked Toyota Hiace. Passers-by rushed him to the 37 Military Hospital, where he died shortly afterwards.

Some of his friends, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE but would not like to be named, said they were looking forward to a grand funeral since they claim that 'Skylier' was killed while jubilating over a national cause.

Meanwhile, the police administration has expressed grave concern over the way Ghanaians celebrate, especially when the host nation wins any of its matches.

The Police Public Affairs Director, DSP Kwesi Ofori cautioned the general public against such actions, saying it is unlawful to drive recklessly or burn lorry tyres on the main road, irrespective of the mood or occasion.

And from Sekondi, Mark Essien reports that six Ghanaians and four foreigners, alleged to have indulged in pick-pocketing and ticket racketeering at the on-going Ghana 2008 football fiesta at the Sekondi stadium in the Western Region, have been arrested by the police.

They are Sidibe Abdulai, 26, Malian; Solomon Abdulai Williams, 32, Nigerian; Agbemele Teku, 44, Togolese and Kone Yakuba, 31, Ivorian.

The Ghanaians included Mark Duka, 20; Frank Badu, 18; George Ackah, 20; Kofi Atta Panyin, 17; Thomas Prempeh, 20 and Sulemana Iddrisu, 18.

Briefing DAILY GUIDE at the Western Regional Police Headquarters yesterday, Superintendent Dennis Abade, Regional Crime Officer said the suspects were arrested around the stadium during the Nigeria-La Cote d'Ivoire and Benin-Mali matches.

He said some of the suspects tried to snatch mobile phones, while others attempted to pick pockets of unsuspecting spectators at the gates of the stadium.

According to Supt. Abade, the incidents happened at the gate while people were rushing in, adding that "it was more of a syndicate which pushed people while entering the gate and in the process, allegedly picked them".

He told this paper that the suspects were currently in police custody for screening, and those found culpable would be put before court.

A 48-year-old carpenter, Egya Amoasi from Ampain in the Central Region narrated how three young men in T-shirts met him at a corner near the stadium and asked him to surrender all he had.

He alleged that he was robbed of GH?30 and a mobile phone after the three threatened to stab him.

DAILY GUIDE ran into Mr. Satish Sekar, a British Journalist, who works for Empower-Sport Magazine, at Sekondi Police Station yesterday totally disturbed. He had also been robbed of some money.

In a related development, Supt. Abade, the Regional Crime Officer has disclosed that Kojo Adamu, 26, and Seidu Adamu, 22 have been arrested for ticket racketeering.

He noted that Adamu was arrested with 10 of the GH?15 tickets meant for the Nigeria-Ivory Coast match played last Monday at Essipon Stadium. Supt. Abade said Adamu confessed to having sold five tickets already to some spectators at GH?35 each. When the police went to his room in Takoradi, five more tickets were found.

The other suspect who claimed to have come from Accra was also alleged to have 10 of the GH?4 tickets, each of which he was allegedly selling for between GH?20 and GH?40.