Ghana, Mali clash; fake tickets on sale, 4 arrested

Stars gear up for final Mali clashPolice in Kumasi have arrested four people, all women, for selling fake tickets for the Ghana, Mali World Cup match scheduled for Sunday.

Speaking to Joy News Correspondent Ohemeng Tawiah, Chief Inspector Tanko Mohammed, Head of Public Affairs of the Ashanti Regional Police Command said the suspects had in their possession nine booklets of the fake tickets and an unspecified amount of money when they were picked up.

“What happened was that two friends went to buy tickets and they wanted to sit together so they were expecting they will get tickets that follow one another so that they could sit at the same place. But when the tickets were issued to them they realized that tickets had one serial number so they reported to the security men on duty at the place and the ladies were arrested” he narrated.

According to him, the women were recruited by a lady in charge of ticketing to help sell advance tickets for the Sunday clash. But upon interrogation the suspects claimed to have been given the fake tickets by another person.

Chief Inspector Tanko said the police have launched a thorough investigation into the matter to ascertain the real source of the fake tickets.

The Ghana Football Association by virtue of a FIFA directive was made to sell advance tickets to avoid prospective incidence of overcrowding at the stadium even though there were fears the tickets could be duplicated.

Meanwhile over 300 policemen, and other military and fire service personnel have been deployed to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to maintain order on Sunday.

The Group D matches are of little significance, as all four teams have their destinies already decided. Ghana picked the sole world cup slot and will join Mali and Benin in Angola 2010.

Mali will however seek to avenge a 2-0 loss to the Black Stars in Bamako early in June.

Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana