Parliament of Ghana has presented the 2026 Democracy Cup to Chief of Defence Staff Lt. Gen. William Agyapong in Accra, ahead of the football match between rivals Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko.
The presentation took place on 24 August 2026, when a parliamentary delegation led by Clerk Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror visited the military high command as the first stop on the Democracy Cup trophy tour.
The match, featuring two of the biggest clubs in Ghanaian football, will be played at Baba Yara Sports Stadium on 28 August 2026.
Djietror was accompanied by former Black Stars defender John Mensah, football administrator Cudjoe Fianoo and other prominent figures during the presentation.
The Clerk said Parliament had chosen football as a way of communicating the importance of democracy and encouraging citizens to reflect on the values needed to sustain it.
“We present the Democracy Cup to the CDS of the military high command. This is the first point of call from this year’s trophy tour. We are saying that democracy has come to stay as a form of governance, life and any other form of endeavour.
“It has its own ills, but if we engage in it constructively and play by the rules of the game, we will definitely see its advancement. It requires tolerance and discipline, and we are leveraging these values in football to promote the democratic agenda. We are asking all Ghanaians to emulate this,” he said.
The fixture between Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko is intended to bring together supporters of two historic rivals while supporting the wider message of the Democracy Cup.
Lt. Gen. Agyapong thanked the Speaker and the Parliamentary Service for involving the military in the trophy tour and for making it the first destination.
“On behalf of the military high command and myself, we want to thank the Rt. Hon. Speaker and the Parliamentary Service for finding us worthy as the military to be the first point of call during this trophy tour.
“On our part, we are urging everyone who can make it to join us at the stadium to witness this football match between the two great teams that we have,” he said.
The Chief of Defence Staff also used the occasion to call on Ghanaians to protect democratic values, respect the rule of law and play their part in strengthening the country’s democratic process.
“Furthermore, we are showing support to deepen our democratic process so that we can speak, choose leaders we want and, most importantly, we will all be law-abiding.
“Once again, we thank the Parliamentary Service for giving us this privilege,” he added.
The 2026 Democracy Cup trophy tour will continue ahead of the meeting between Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko at Baba Yara Sports Stadium on 28 August.
