Dr Kofi Amoah, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Board for CAN 2008 has commended government for its support in the activities of the LOC. The LOC chairman stated this during the final 2008 song and poem competition at the committee’s secretariat in Accra. According to him, the poems and songs competition was part of the road map to the opening ceremony, slated for January 20, next year. Eighteen-year-old, Stephen Osei-Poku emerged winner of the Ghana 2008 final song competition while Joseph Danquah took the first position in the poem competition. Stephen Osei-Poku, a student of Apam Secondary School in the Central Region, topped seven other contestants with his traditionally blended song, which won the hearts of the cheering audience and the judges, Lepowura Mohammed Nuru Deen Jawula, Vice Chairman of the LOC Board, Amandzeba Nat Brew, Nana Akua Busia, an African fashioned designer, Mr Zapp Mallet, a sound engineer and Alhaji Sidiku Buari, President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA). Contestants for the poetry recitals included Franklord Appiah, Brenda Fata, Richard Avornyotse, Kwartelai Quartey, Mark Logo represented by Emma, Elaine Adwoa Embil and Sumaila Zakaria. The song performers included Solomon Narh, Stephen Osei Poku, Nathaniel Aidoo and Timothy Adjetey, Calvis Hammond, Kafui Dey, SW1 (Sabato &Wofa) and Akua Adubea Appiah. At about 5pm when the programme started, the place was filled to capacity, with most of the audience standing throughout the programme. The venue for the ceremony which was decorated in a picturesque manner to depict the spirit of the occasion saw people from all walks of life including rastafarians, musicians, poetry and appellation writers trooping to the premises for the grand finale of the competition, which had Azigiza jnr as the MC. The mention of Stephen Osei-Poku as winner did not come as a surprise to many as his song centred on the theme for the event, "Passion at the centre of the earth" and moved the audience to cheer him. SW1 (Sabato and Wofa) came second while Calvis Hammond placed third. Osei-Poku received ¢50million and a mobile phone as his prize, with the first runner-up going home with a fridge and TV set and the second runner-up, with a table top fridge. In the highly competitive poetry competition, Joseph Dankwa, a student of the Wisconsin International University emerged first, with Richard Avornyotse, a journalist with the Ghana News Agency as the first runner up, as Franklord Appiah came as the second runner-up. Dankwa won the hearts of the judges and fans with his rhymes and body movement, which made him a delight to watch in his long black robe designed with the national colours. For his prize, he received ¢30million cash while Avornyotse went home with a TV set and a fridge. Readwide Limited also included instantly, a one year free scholarship for the winners. Source: Daily Guide