The Speaker of Parliament and founder of the Democracy Cup, Alban Bagbin, together with members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports, have visited English Premier League club Sunderland to deepen ties and explore new opportunities for the Democracy Cup initiative.

The Democracy Cup was established by the Speaker as a platform to bridge the gap between Parliament and citizens through sports while celebrating Ghana’s democratic journey. The competition has become a symbolic event highlighting the role of sports in promoting national unity and civic engagement.

Since its inception, the tournament has produced two champions, with Ghana Premier League giants Asante Kotoko S.C. and Accra Hearts of Oak S.C. emerging as winners.

As part of efforts to broaden the impact of the competition and expose players and administrators to international best practices, the Democracy Cup—organised by Primeval Consult and sponsored by KGL Group—offers the winning club the opportunity to visit a partner club abroad.

Following their victory in the maiden edition, Asante Kotoko travelled to Washington in the United States.

With the newly established partnership with Sunderland, 2026 winners of the Democracy Cup will have the opportunity to visit the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, last year’s winners, Hearts of Oak, are expected to play a Premier League club in South Africa later this year.

The initiative provides players and club officials the opportunity to observe firsthand how football operates within more developed systems, while also giving players the chance to showcase their talents on the international stage. The programme is also expected to boost Ghana’s global sporting profile.

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports delegation was led by Chairman Nogbey, Ranking Member, Vincent Ekow Assifuah, and committee member, Lawrencia Djowornu.

The visit marks another step in strengthening international collaboration through sport while advancing the broader objectives of the Democracy Cup initiative.