Dr Kofi Amoah, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the 2008 African Cup of Nations says all people with tickets to the Ohene Djan Stadium for Sunday’s opening game must be seated by 14:00GMT as the stadium gates closes afterwards.

Hosts, Ghana, would get the competition underway on Sunday in Group A with a game against Guinea in the capital, Accra.

And as the LOC prepares to roll out the cultural showpiece to open up the competition before the 17:00GMT kick off time, Dr Amoah reminds ticket holders to be seated before the 14:30GMT closure of the gates on the day.

According to Dr Amoah, the closure of the stadium gates is part of security measures and it would make way for the opening ceremony which starts at 15:30 GMT and would be attended by the President of the nation, J.A. Kufour and other guests including FIFA’s Sepp Blatter, CAF President Issa Hayatou and Michel Platini, President of UEFA.

About 2,500 people made up of students, professors and lecturers from the University of Ghana, professional dance groups across the country, acrobats, cultural troops and children from primary schools would exhibit a blend of cultural and gymnastic display on the day.