Superstars Storm Kumasi For Peaceful Elections

Over 100 superstars including footballers, actors, musicians and broadcasters will be arriving in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi, this weekend for a project aimed at promoting a peaceful 2012 elections in Ghana.

Togolese-born Tottenham Hotspurs top striker Emmanuel Adebayor is part of the 100 top stars expected in Kumasi and he has explained his interest in the event: “I want to do this to promote peace in the country I love, the country I live in and the country I call home.”

Among the tall list of notables that have confirmed their participation include Ivorian football giant Didier Drogba, Nigeria’s Nwankwo Kanu, Stephan Sessegnon, George Oppong Weah and a tall list of Ghanaian soccer stars including John Painstil, Asamoah Gyan, captain John Mensah, Stephen Appiah, Baffour Gyan and Laryea Kingston.

The list also includes actor Agya Koo, actress Rose Mensah (Kyeiwaa) musician Kwaw Kese, Sexy Tinny, the ever green Abrantie Amakye Dede, Castro, and Samini. The stars will partake in a road show from Accra to Kumasi on Saturday 23rd June from 9am to 4pm.

The road show will have the stars parading their cars, led by a police escort, from Accra through Koforidua, Nkawkaw, Konongo, to Ejisu, where there will be a 15-minute stopover for autographs and photo opportunities with fans en route to Kumasi.

On Sunday June 24, they will climax the event with a football match at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Organizers, in an interaction with NEWS-ONE, explained that the event was dubbed Stars Soccer Fiesta Reloaded and that though it was an annual charity event, this year’s was solely aimed at promoting peaceful elections in Ghana.

They said the choice of the venue was to let the fans of Kumasi have the feel and fun attached to the worthy cause since part of the funds accrued would be used to support a charity in Kumasi, as had been the case for Accra fans since its inception some six years ago.

Ace broadcast journalist Kwami Sefa Kayi is said to be the coach of the media personnel football team while the professional footballers are expected to coach themselves.

Meanwhile, Asamoah Gyan, Kanu, Adebayor and John Mensah are said to be part of the media and actors’ team that would be facing the rest of the soccer players. Top movie producer Shirley Frimpong Manso, organizers said, would be leading a tall list of female celebrities to serve as ‘ball girls’.**