Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has received the 2026 Democracy Cup trophy ahead of the highly anticipated clash between Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on 28 August.

Speaking at the trophy presentation, Bagbin said the competition had evolved beyond football to become a platform for promoting Ghana’s democratic values, national unity and social cohesion.

He said the Democracy Cup had expanded beyond Ghana and Africa, describing its growing international profile as an indication of the potential of football to project the country’s democratic credentials.

“We’ve now gone beyond the borders of Ghana. We’ve gone beyond the continent of Africa, and we are now on the global scene,” he said.

Bagbin also announced a partnership between Ghana and English Premier League club Sunderland to promote Ghana’s tourism industry.

Under the arrangement, the Visit Ghana campaign will feature on Sunderland’s jersey during the 2026/27 Premier League season.

He said the partnership would also create opportunities for talented Ghanaian footballers to train at the Sunderland Academy, with some players potentially earning opportunities to join the club.

“We’ll be sending young talents there to their academy, and also those that we believe are mature enough to join the team,” Bagbin said.

The Speaker urged Ghanaians to view football as more than entertainment, arguing that the sport could generate significant economic value and contribute to national development.

He cited countries such as Brazil and Cape Verde as examples of nations that had used football to enhance their global profile.

KGL Democracy Cup organising committee member Kudjoe Fianoo said the competition had continued to expand, with this year’s programme including youth and women’s matches.

The women’s fixture between Parliament and the Judicial Service ended 2-2 before the Judicial Service team won on penalties.

“We are bringing Parliament closer to the public, and I think that this competition is really playing that role,” Fianoo said.

He said Kotoko and Hearts had withdrawn from some pre-season competitions to adequately prepare for the Democracy Cup encounter, adding that the fixture was expected to be fiercely contested.

The match will bring together Ghana’s two most prominent traditional clubs in a fixture that combines football rivalry with the Democracy Cup’s broader civic objectives.

Bagbin said the country’s political differences should not undermine national cohesion, urging Ghanaians to use football as an avenue for bringing people together.

“The differences are not meant to divide us. It is meant to bring everybody on board,” he said.

As part of the celebrations, Bagbin said he would lead a parliamentary delegation to present the Democracy Cup trophy to other arms of government, including President John Dramani Mahama.