With only ten (10) days for the spotlight to be on Ghana for the 26th African biennial soccer fiesta, there are several reports of shortage of tickets for the matches, especially the opening match between the Black Stars of Ghana and the Syli Nationale of Guinea slated for Sunday, January 20, at the Ohene Gyan Sports Stadium, Accra. The Independent's investigation has revealed that, whilst many football enthusiasts join long queues in search of the tournament's tickets at the various selected Commercial Banks and Post Offices across the country, several others have bought the tickets in hundreds and are reselling them over and above the officially-approved prices. Our investigations have revealed that, popular stand tickets for the Ghana-Guinea match, which abound in the black market are going for GH¢5.00 and GH¢6.00 instead of the GH¢4.00 fixed by the Local Organising Committee (LOC). The tickets on sale at the black market, which our investigative team spotted are genuine tickets with all the security features, which include a chip, serial numbers, GHANA 2008 logo, the tournament's mascot and a seal. According to some people who bought the ticket at the black market rate and even the dealers, one has to have links at high places in order to get the tickets in such large numbers. "One sef you no go get buy, how much more when you wan get 20 or 30," a middle aged man who only gave his name as Yussif told The Independent after struggling to get himself a ticket at the black market in Accra. Some of the people who spoke to The Independent also confirmed that one has to get links at all the sales points in order to get the tickets. Dealers of the tickets at the various black markets are aware of the implication of their act, that is, of being arrested by the security agents. Hence, they are suspicious of anybody that approaches them with whatever amounts to purchase the tickets. As done in the "illicit drug world" tickets are sold through a number of go-betweens, some of whom are teenagers, before the ticket finally arrives in the hands of the eventual purchasers. A frustrated football fan could not hide his emotions anymore when approached by this paper. He sang out his lamentations after going through unnecessary hustle to a purchase two tickets at the Timber Market in Accra. Also on the market are fake GHANA 2008 T-shirts and Lacostes. This paper's n investigations have revealed that, some opportunistic persons have taken advantage of the presence of designer tournaments wears on the market and have started designing inferior ones that are also being sold below GH¢ 10.00 to unsuspecting Ghanaians and fans. Original designer wears on sale at some boutiques across the country is between GH¢15.00 and GH¢20.00. In the mean time, on the plate of the LOC is the issue of readiness of training pitches for the tournaments, especially Tamale and Sekondi-Takoradi, where reports say, the external works on the training pitches are yet to be completed, access roads to the various match venues and training pitches, security, accommodation and above all publicity. When The Independent reached the media co-ordinator of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Mr. Paa Kwesi Plange, he said, the committee is unaware of the issues mentioned. "We are not aware, so you can still go ahead and do your investigations," he said. Source: The Indepepndent