Kumasi, Oct. 16, GNA - A photographic exhibition of the Ghana CAN 2008 soccer fiesta hosted by Ghana in the early part of this year opened in Kumasi on Wednesday.

Dubbed "For the Passion of it", the two-week exhibition is being mounted by Jean-Rivel Fondjo, a renowned photographer in collaboration with the Alliance Francaise in Kumasi.

In an interview with the GNA Sports after the opening session of the event, Mr. Julien Dal Bosco, Kumasi Centre Manager of the Alliance Francaise, said the exhibition was informed by the cultural diversity show cased amongst the various participating countries and their supporters during the tournament.

Some of the pictures on display at the exhibition focussed mainly on the background stage of the tournament, highlights of supporters' reaction to their teams' performance as well as their relationship with supporters from the other participating countries.

"I believe that the time has come for all well-meaning Africans to invest in soccer since it has the power to unify the continent in spite of the cultural differences and diversity", Mr. Bosco said. Jean-Rive Fondjo said that football was not be seen as being about violence but needs to be seen to promote unity and peace while football fans need to learn to accept the outcome of matches in good faith. He said he was marvelled at the way some supporters endured pain even when their teams lost matches during the tournament and urged management of teams on the African continent to impress upon their supporters to exercise restraint and adhere to the principles of football at all times to ensure fair play and peaceful c0-existence.