The Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif has called for widespread support for the upcoming Democracy Cup match between Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium on July 17.

Ussif emphasised that this event provides a unique opportunity for Ghanaians to come together ahead of the 2024 general elections scheduled for December 7.

The Democracy Cup, themed "30 Years of Parliamentary Democracy Under the 4th Republic: The Journey Thus Far," aims to use football as a means to engage citizens and promote greater participation in the legislative process.

In an interview, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Yagaba/Kubori constituency expressed his gratitude to the parliamentary leadership for organising this initiative and encouraged Ghanaians to support it as a step towards peace.

"First of all, I want to thank the Speaker of Parliament for this Democracy Cup initiative, which is a laudable project.

"As we all know, football brings our nation together and leads to national cohesion. So for the initiative of the Democracy Cup, I want to urge all members of Parliament to participate, as well as the general public.

"As we head towards the election, this would bring us together, irrespective of our political affiliations, and help promote peace before, during, and after the elections," he said.

The eagerly awaited match, originally set for July 5, 2024, but will now be played on July 17, will feature a curtain-raiser between Members of Parliament and former Black Stars players before the main 'Super Clash' between Hearts and Kotoko.

A trophy tour has already begun to raise awareness for the match, which marks the third meeting between the two clubs this year.

Asante Kotoko has won the previous two encounters, and the Phobians, who narrowly avoided relegation this season, will be seeking revenge on July 17, 2024.