Chairman and owner of English Premier League club Sunderland AFC, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, has led a high-powered delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin, as both parties seek to deepen cooperation through football and business partnerships.

The visit follows a recent trip by Speaker Bagbin to the club’s headquarters in England and forms part of efforts to strengthen ties under the annual Democracy Cup initiative, an inter-club competition spearheaded by the Speaker.

Addressing a gathering that included government ministers, chief executive officers and business leaders, Louis-Dreyfus said the delegation’s visit was a reciprocal gesture following Bagbin’s engagement with the club in the United Kingdom and a reflection of Sunderland’s desire to formalise its long-standing relationship with Ghana.

According to him, Sunderland AFC has enjoyed strong connections with Ghana over the years through several Ghanaian football legends, including Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari and John Mensah, who all represented the club and left lasting impressions.

“We have had different connections with Ghana over the years, and it is time to institutionalise the relationship for the mutual benefit of both sides,” Louis-Dreyfus stated.

Speaker Bagbin welcomed the delegation and commended Sunderland AFC for following up on his visit, describing it as a clear indication of the club’s commitment to building a sustainable partnership with Ghana.

He noted that the visit extended beyond football and presented opportunities for collaboration in trade, investment and other sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

“This visit goes beyond football. There are many business opportunities for us as a country to explore. That is why we carefully selected participants for this important meeting,” Bagbin said.

“I hope the ministers and members of the business community will take advantage of this engagement and explore the opportunities available to them.”

The Speaker also expressed optimism that the partnership with Sunderland AFC would help elevate the annual Democracy Cup and contribute to the development of football in Ghana.

He highlighted the club’s potential role in supporting youth football development and advancing the women’s game in the country.

“Football is the most popular sport in the country, and this relationship will help strengthen its growth in Ghana. We are looking forward to building a deeper relationship with Sunderland to support youth development and women’s football,” he added.

As a symbol of Ghanaian hospitality and cultural appreciation, Speaker Bagbin presented specially made fugu smocks to each member of the Sunderland AFC delegation.