Kumasi, March 18, GNA - The Chief Operating Officer of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of CAN 2008, Mr Magnus Rex Danquah has urged the volunteers of the tournament to see themselves as role models and mentors in their communities.

He said they should also let their experiences and spirit of volunteerism at the tournament permeate and impact positively in their communities while offering themselves readily to serve their people. Mr Danquah made the call at a ceremony in Kumasi to honour the Volunteers of the Baba Yara stadium Kumasi venue of the tournament. Mr Rex Danquah commended the Volunteers for their hard work and sense of patriotism, which he said ensured the success of the tournament, adding that with the experiences gained, the names of the volunteers would be incorporated into a register of National Volunteer Corps to be established by the government.

He said the establishment of the Corps is to make them ready to respond at anytime to perform volunteer services including disaster management and advised them to prepare themselves towards future assignments. Mr Ben Abankwa, District Chief Executive for Afigya-Sekyere, who represented the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, said the success of the tournament was partly as a result of the dedication and commitment of the volunteers. He said their services was an indication that, given the task they could excel and urged them to always uphold the traditions and positive cultural values of the nation.

Nana Kwabena Nketia Abrefa 111, Paramount Chief of the Wenchi Traditional Area and Vice Chairman of the Kumasi Venue Organising Committee, who presided, said the gesture of a "Than You" was to show appreciation to the volunteers whose tremendous roles ensured the success of the tournament in Kumasi.

He said the volunteers had demonstrated that, Kumasi could host any type of tournament including a World Cup. Seven of the Volunteers were given special awards. They included DSP Kwasi Frimpong of the Ghana Police Service, Baffour Ampoma, Regional Security Coordinator, Mr Jonathan Asante, Osman Amadu, Kwesi Quainoo, Kwabena Amofa Sarpong and Emmanuel Tony Amoah. The about 600 volunteers received a certificate each signed by the President of CAF, Mr Issah Hayatu, Dr Kofi Amoah, Chairman of the LOC and Mr Rex Danquah, the Operating Officer as well as an undisclosed sum of money.