Michael oti Adjei BBC Sport, Accra

Hearts are at home for the first leg

Authorities in Ghana are planning a massive security operation for Sunday's first leg of the Confederation Cup final between Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.

The Sports Ministry and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) say they are working together to prevent rouble flaring up during Sunday's showdown between the two arch rivals in Accra.

Matches between Hearts and Kotoko have often been marred by violence and 126 fans died during a league match in Accra three years ago.

With that tragedy uppermost in their minds, officials of Ghana's National Security Unit will handle security for the first leg at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The slightest slip can endanger our hosting rights for the 2008 African Cup of Nations Dr Nyaho Tamakloe GFA Chairman

Security chiefs have already decreed that no alcohol will be sold inside the stadium on the day of the match.

Plainclothes police officers will be deployed amongst the crowd while surveillance cameras and sniffer dogs will be used to scare away potential trouble-makers.

Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport Joe Aggrey told a news conference in Accra on Tuesday that the government was worried about the timing of the match.

"These matches are taking place around the elections [on 7 December] and there's bound to be tension," Aggrey said.

He went on: "The likelihood of people using the football matches to fight their own battles is very real.

"So we want the public to understand that these matches are too important for the good health of the nation before and after the elections."

Hearts and Kotoko are considered to be much more than football institutions - they are also believed to be linked to the two biggest political parties in Ghana.

While Kotoko are associated with the ruling New Patriotic Party, Hearts are often linked with the opposition National Democratic Congress.

Describing the colouring of the two clubs as "unfortunate", GFA chairman Dr Nyaho Tamakloe said he was more concerned about the potential effect of any trouble at Sunday's game on Ghana's reputation.