By: Kwame Bediako
Organisers of the annual Democracy Cup have announced an exciting new development for the 2026 edition: the tournament champions will earn the opportunity to face English Premier League side Sunderland in an international friendly match.
This follows a recently secured partnership between the Democracy Cup organisers and Sunderland Football Club, a collaboration that highlights the strong ties between Sunderland and Ghana, particularly through former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan, who played for the club for just over a season.
The announcement made during a ceremony held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at Parliament’s D.F. Annan Auditorium in Accra.
The event honoured sponsors and partners of the 2025 Democracy Cup and included remarks from key figures involved in the tournament’s organisation.
Henry Asante Twum, who moderated the ceremony, revealed that the partnership was established with the endorsement of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.
“Through the efforts of the organisers, Primeval Media Limited, and the Office of the Right Honourable Speaker, we have secured a partnership with Sunderland Football Club in England. So, the winner of the next edition will travel to England,” Twum said.
The gesture was marked by the presentation of a framed number three jersey to Speaker Bagbin, symbolizing his position in Ghana’s political hierarchy and his support for the tournament.
The Democracy Cup, launched in 2024, is designed to promote peace and unity across Ghana with football serving as a tool to foster democratic values.
The competition takes place ahead of Ghana’s general elections and aims to create a peaceful atmosphere around the electoral process through the unifying power of sport.
Hearts of Oak are the current holders of the trophy, having claimed the 2025 title by defeating Great Olympics 1-0 at the University of Ghana Stadium.
In its inaugural year, the tournament winner, Asante Kotoko, secured an international friendly against the MLS side D.C. United.
For Hearts of Oak, options for their enabling international match include Germany and the United States, further indicating the tournament’s growing international reach and importance in connecting Ghanaian football with global clubs.
The Sunderland partnership promises to enhance the profile of the Democracy Cup and provide valuable exposure for domestic clubs on the world stage.
