Accra, March 18, GNA - The Local Organising Committee of the 26th Cup of Africa Nations to be hosted by Ghana in 2008, would launch two national competitions to select the official Mascot and songs for the tournament.

The competition forms part of the Public Relations and marketing activities planned by the LOC to involve the citizenry in the organisation and hosting of the tournament.

Outlining the guidelines for the two competitions, Mr Magnus Rex Danquah, Chief Operations Officer of the LOC in a Release copied to the He said the Committee should be able to adopt the Mascot as a symbol, which embodies both the tradition and passions of the people of Ghana as the host country.

Mr Danquah said that the animal should also reflect and encapsulate the strength, dynamism, energy, fearlessness and focus of the Ghanaian as well as the African people.

"The mascot should be given a name, clothed traditionally to explain each colour proposed within the setting". Mr Danquah said the songs should incorporate the theme of the tournament, "Sharing Passions" as well as other messages such as inviting people all over the globe to "the Centre Of The Earth, where the equator meets the Greenwich meridian in Ghana to watch the greatest football fiesta on the African continent.

He said the date for the two competitions, the rules and regulations governing them and the corresponding cash prizes would be announced later.

There will b special cash prizes for various repertoires, types of music, including traditional and contemporary highlife, hip-life, reggae, osode, soukous, sikyi and boborbo as well as prize for the overall best song for the tournament.