Mahama Ayariga is the Majority Leader in Parliament
The second edition of the Democracy Cup will kick off with an exhibition football match between the teams of Ghana’s Parliament and Judiciary.
The game, a symbolic clash of two key branches of government, is scheduled for Friday, August 29, 2025, at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.
The announcement was made by First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor during a parliamentary session on August 1, 2025.
“Following a successful launch of the second edition of the Democracy Cup, I wish to bring to your attention that on Friday, August 29, at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, we are excited to announce a curtain-raiser match between Parliament and the Judiciary,” Ahiafor stated.
He confirmed that negotiations for the match are far advanced and expressed optimism for a fruitful collaboration with the judiciary, with the involvement of the Acting Chief Justice.
The parliamentary team will be captained by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga.
“The judiciary is yet to provide a captain of their team, but we are confident in our abilities to compete when they bring their team,” Ahiafor remarked.
Training for the lawmakers is expected to begin soon as they swap their formal wear for football kits.
The match is designed to showcase the sporting skills of Ghana’s legal and legislative figures while fostering a spirit of cooperation between the two bodies.
This curtain-raiser will precede the main Democracy Cup event, which will feature a much-anticipated match between Ghanaian football rivals Accra Hearts of Oak and Accra Great Olympics.
That game will be played later the same day at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Democracy Cup, an initiative launched by Parliament in 2024, uses the unifying power of football to promote democratic values, civic participation, and peaceful coexistence.
The inaugural event last year was highly successful, drawing widespread attention and support from political and sporting figures.
The launch of the 2025 edition earlier this year also attracted prominent personalities, including former Black Stars players, influential legislators, and Ghana Football Association officials.
The event promises to be a vibrant display of unity and democratic spirit, bringing together various sectors of Ghanaian society through the beautiful game.
VPO/EB
How Virtual Reality is enhancing business and customer experience
