Mr. Kobena Mensah Woyome, Member of Parliament for South Tongu, believes the upcoming Democracy Cup will be a unique event to celebrate Ghana’s growing democracy. Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko are set to face off in the Democracy Cup on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, as part of Ghana’s 30th anniversary of parliamentary democracy celebrations.

The inaugural Democracy Cup match, themed “30 Years of Parliamentary Democracy Under the 4th Republic: The Journey Thus Far,” aims to highlight the nation’s democratic achievements.

In a pre-match interview, Mr. Woyome, a Ranking Member on the Youth and Sports Committee of Parliament, emphasized the importance of using sports to engage citizens in the governance process. He stated, “There is a need for us to protect our democracy, deepen our understanding, and get everybody to appreciate it. This is the only sure way of developing our dear country.”

He continued, “We have come a long way, and the best way to celebrate this achievement is through sports. Sports have been identified by the United Nations as a tool for development, so we are going to use sports so that people can appreciate and understand how democracy works. This gives voice to the voiceless and allows everyone to impact the governance process. Parliament, being a crucial arm of government, should commemorate this milestone annually to demonstrate that democracy is here to stay.”

Mr. Woyome encouraged supporters of the two major Ghanaian clubs to attend in large numbers and enjoy the event, despite their rivalry on the football field. The highly anticipated Democracy Cup will be preceded by a curtain-raiser between members of Parliament and former Black Stars players.

The winner of the Hearts and Kotoko match will earn the opportunity to play DC United in the United States later this year.