Parliament has begun its build-up to the 2026 Democracy Cup with a trophy tour ahead of Friday’s clash at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

A delegation led by Clerk to Parliament Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror visited Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General William Agyapong at the Military High Command at Burma Camp on Monday.

Former Ghana captain John Mensah, an ambassador for the competition, was also part of the delegation.

The trophy tour is part of activities to rally support for the third edition of the Democracy Cup in Kumasi.

Ahumah Djietror invited the CDS and the Ghana Armed Forces to participate in the event, which seeks to promote democratic governance through football.

“It [the military] is an institution that has it all. Come to road construction, engineering, anything, medicine, you are there. It's a whole institution, and at this point in time, we felt appropriate, as it were, to come over to you to present the Democracy Cup to you and to crave your support, your indulgence, so that you come along with us in this process.”

Lieutenant General William Agyapong, meanwhile, pledged the full participation of the Ghana Armed Forces in this year’s Democracy Cup.

“So we, as a military, will continue to reaffirm our resolve and commitment to the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and to do everything that we can to maintain the territorial integrity of Ghana and to push this process, this democratic governance process, forward, so that as a country, we can choose our leaders and we can say what we want our leaders to do for us. Let me assure you that we will back this particular episode also. We'll be at the stadium.

“Probably, you will not see us in numbers because we will not be in uniform. We will want to enjoy just like any other person, but we will be there to support this very noble gesture.

“Our message to you, back to the Speaker, is to tell him that we are happy that once more he has recognised us, he has honoured the Ghana Armed Forces by presenting this cup to us and making us a part of this very innovative venture.”

Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko will battle for bragging rights on Friday. Kotoko won the inaugural edition against Hearts, while the Phobians are the defending champions after beating Great Olympics last year.

The main fixture will be preceded by curtain-raiser matches, including a Parliamentary XI versus Judiciary XI encounter.