Accra, July 22, GNA - The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2008 African Cup of Nations on Friday inaugurated a ten-member Accra Venue Organising Committee (AVOC) tasked to help bring the city to an appreciable standard for the championship.

Mr. Martin Eson-Benjamin, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Foundation, heads the committee, which is expected to start work soon. The committee members include Mr. Douglas Djarbeng, Chairman of the Division One Board and General Manager of COCOBOD as Vice Chairman, Mr Agyiri Blankson, Mayor of Accra, Mr. Jim Amoah, Regional Sports Development Officer of the National Sports Council (NSC) and Mr Sal Amegavia, CEO of GNCCI.

The rest are Ms Comfort Opoku Ware, Acting Regional Manager of Ghana Tourist Board, Accra, Nii Adu Mante, Ms. Esther D. Ofori, LOC Liaison a nominee by the Regional Minister and a representative from the Regional Football Association .

Chief among the committee's mandate is to liase with the LOC's secretariat to meet the Confederation of African Football (CAF) deadline and to keep the city clean.

They are to liase with the LOC board through its secretariat to attain the objectives of organising the tournament for specific matches at the venue with particular emphasis on sanitation and beautification of the city prior to the tourney. Mr Eson-Benjamin underscored the enormity of the task ahead but assured the nation of their commitment and determination to exceed expectation with hard work.

He said the committee reckoned the fact that the Accra Venue would be the frontier among the three others- Kumasi, sekondi Tarkoradi and Tamale- but has embraced the challenge to deliver with fervent joy. Dr Kofi Amoah, Chairman of the LOC was of the conviction that members of the committee would endeavour to "accomplish something great in creating a shining city on the hill that is capable of bringing pride and joy to the Hearts of all Ghanaians."