Just as all the socks ahd been worn and the laces tied in the run up to the official opening of the reconstructed Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi by President J A Kufuor on Sunday, the impending colourful event has been tarred with a brush of party politics, with the NDC also planning a rally in Kumasi on the same day.

The Police have however refused to grant the party permission, arguing that they neded all their men to provide adequate security for the President's visit and the attendant festivities at the stadium. The decision, according to a police source, is within the context of the Public Order Act.

This decision has however not gone down well with the NDC, with the party accusing the New Patriotic Party government of trying to "sabotage" the rally.

Sunday's opening of the 40,528 capacity Stadium that will serve as one of the four venues for the Ghana 2008 African Cup of Nations from January 20 to February 10, will be climaxed by an international friendly between Ghana's Under 17 team, the Black Starlets, and their Cote d'Ivoire counterparts.

The NDC, according to our source, is peeved that the opening ceremony of the Stadium had been deliberately planned to coincide with the rally.

The source stressed that the opening of the Baba Yara Stadium had long been planned together with the official opening of the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra last month.

It was, however, delayed following President Kufuor's recent outside travels on official duties.

According to the source, the opening of the Stadium would definitely be held, despite the NDC protest, especially the party's desire to read political meanings into the Police Service's refusal to grant them a permit. "They are just being mischievous," the source said.

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