KVOC, THE BEST (NSEMPA, BACK PAGE)

By Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

THE Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) adjudged the Kumasi Venue Organising Committee (KVOC) the best amongst the various venue committees of the 26th MTN Africa Cup of Nations.
Message
A member of the KVOC, Mr Jonathan Abbey Pobee, told Graphic Nsempa in Kumasi that CAF had conveyed message of excellence to them at their last meeting in Kumasi on January 9, the day Ghana played Cote d’Ivoire in the third place game at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Four venues, namely Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Sekondi hosted the three-week tournament.
Recognition
Mr Pobee said it was refreshing that all the efforts of the KVOC were appreciated by CAF and emphasised that “we at the KVOC are honoured by the recognition”.
The KVOC initially came under criticisms on many occasions in the build-up to the tournament, as the media and the general public expressed disgust at the slow pace with which it undertook its activities.
Among the areas that the KVOC came under some form of criticism was the preparation of training pitches, accommodation and sanitation.
The criticisms served as a wake-up call for the committee to put its house in order.
Together with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, the security services, the Ghana Tourist Board, among other entities, the KVOC put the pieces together and started winning the admiration of the people.

Commendation
Mr Pobee commended the media for the constructive criticisms of the KVOC in the days before the competition, and said they were very helpful in achieving the enviable results.
He stated that the committee had put its house in order to ensure that in the areas of medical care, transport, accommodation security among others, they were never found wanting.
The KVOC member also commended the fans in Kumasi for their impressive attendance at the matches.
He noted with appreciation that even though the Black Stars played only one match in Kumasi, the fans were always at the Baba Yara Stadium in their numbers to watch all the matches.
He said the fans comported themselves very well and won the admiration of CAF officials.
Mr Pobee said the KVOC was holding its last meeting to evaluate its performance before, during and after tournament.