HIKE IN TICKET PRICES

THE face value of the Nations Cup tickets especially Ghana’s opening group A match against Guinea on Sunday has increased by more than 100 per cent at the black markets, the Daily Graphic can reveal.
Investigations by the paper revealed that tickets for the Popular Stands which cost GH¢4 is now being sold for GH 10 and the Centre Line now goes for GH¢30 instead of the original GH¢15.
A Graphic Sports reporter who posed as a desperate fan who needed the tickets at all cost was shocked when a group of young boys showed some of the authentic tickets to him for sale.
Eager to know more about their sources of supply, the boys recoiled into their shells and said they bought them at the Accra General Post Office.
Captain Andy Sam, Deputy Operating Manager of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) was reported to have refuted any such suggestion on air but said it was likely individuals could buy more than what they needed.
About 13,000 tickets of the 42,000 for the Ghana-Guinea match run out of sales days after it was reported to have been put out on the market by the LOC.
But fans are challenging the LOC on the figures alleging that it was likely some LOC officials may be hoarding the tickets to make extra money at the black markets.
The LOC said local fans were entitled to only 13,000 while the remaining have been allocated to the various continental associations and the VIPs.
Meanwhile, the LOC is now fixing tables and PCs at the media centre for journalists with three days to the start of the tournament.
Issuance of accreditations have been shrouded in secrecy and those in charge seem to have been overwhelmed by the situation.
The LOC says less than 100 journalists would be accredited for the three-week competition and is likely most reporters in the regions would be cut off.