The Democracy Cup trophy has been presented to Ghana’s Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General William Agyapong, as its tour of key state institutions continues ahead of Friday’s meeting between Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.
A parliamentary delegation led by Clerk to Parliament Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror delivered the trophy to the Chief of Defence Staff’s office in Accra on Monday. The visit forms part of a programme aimed at highlighting national unity, democratic governance and football’s ability to bring people together.
The third edition of the Democracy Cup will be decided when Asante Kotoko face Hearts of Oak at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Friday, August 28.
The competition is being held as part of Parliament’s celebrations of Ghana’s democratic journey. Its build-up has included engagements with national institutions, with the trophy serving as a symbol of the values and shared identity the event is intended to promote.
Speaking during Monday’s presentation, Djietror said Parliament viewed sport as an important way of connecting citizens and institutions around common national interests.
“Democracy is about celebrating our victories together and sharing in the concerns around the things that bind us as a people. That is why Parliament continues to use sport as a platform to bring Ghanaians together,” he said.
Djietror also pointed to earlier sporting activities involving Parliament and other institutions. He said those events demonstrated the legislature’s intention to support its democratic message through practical engagement rather than words alone.
“Parliament is walking the talk. We have used football to engage different institutions, and this Democracy Cup has continued to create opportunities for us to interact beyond our traditional roles,” Djietror added.
Lieutenant General Agyapong welcomed the decision to include the Ghana Armed Forces in the trophy tour. He said the invitation reflected the military’s position as an important stakeholder in safeguarding Ghana’s democratic system.
“Democracy thrives where there is peace, justice, equality, respect for the law and where people abide by law and order. As a military, we will continue to reaffirm our commitment to the Constitution and to maintaining the territorial integrity of Ghana,” he said.
The Chief of Defence Staff also pledged the Armed Forces’ backing for Friday’s fixture and confirmed that military personnel would attend the match in Kumasi.
“We will be at the stadium. You may not see us in numbers or in uniform because we also want to enjoy the game like every other Ghanaian, but we will be there to support this very noble initiative,” Lieutenant General Agyapong said.
The trophy’s tour will continue during the week, taking in the National Commission for Civic Education, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Armed Forces, Judicial Service, Electoral Commission, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, and the Office of the President.
It will end at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, where Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko will renew their rivalry with the Democracy Cup at stake.
The fixture brings together two of Ghana’s most prominent clubs and adds another contest to one of the country’s biggest football rivalries.
