The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has suggested a bold change for the 2026 Democracy Cup, proposing that the winner and runner-up of this year’s Ghana Premier League (GPL) face off in the prestigious fixture.

The match is expected to take place at a date yet to be announced at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Mr Bagbin’s proposal shifts focus from the traditional rivalry between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko, who had been expected to contest the third edition of the competition.

Kotoko won the inaugural edition on July 5, 2024 at the Accra Sports Stadium, beating Hearts 2-1, while Hearts claimed the second edition on  September 5, 2025 with a narrow 1-0 win over city rivals Accra Great Olympics.

“The Hearts-Kotoko rivalry is iconic,” he noted, “but selection must be earned. Clubs should not be picked automatically for the Cup; they must demonstrate excellence on the pitch.”

The Democracy Cup was launched in 2024 by the Speaker to mark 30 years of uninterrupted parliamentary democracy under the Fourth Republic. Designed as more than a football match, the initiative seeks to deepen civic engagement and connect Parliament with the wider public through Ghana’s most popular sport.

KGL sponsorship

The third  KGL Democracy Cup is being organised by sports event managers, Primeval Media Limited, with KGL as the headline sponsor. Yesterday’s launch marked the start of a series of activities leading up to the main event.

Alongside the marquee match, this year’s programme includes a national under-19 tournament to promote youth development, an executive-legislative football match to strengthen institutional cohesion and an all-women’s game to advance inclusion.

Mr Bagbin highlighted efforts to establish international partnerships, revealing a successful visit to the United Kingdom to engage officials from English football side, Sunderland FC.

The discussions aimed to secure a framework allowing talented Ghanaian youths to enter the Sunderland academy. 

Long-term vision

The Speaker also announced plans for the winner of this year’s Democracy Cup to compete against selected national sides in Africa and beyond, underlining the competition’s growing prestige.

The launch drew a wide array of distinguished attendees, including members of Parliament, members of the diplomatic corps and former national players such as Osei Kofi, Ali Jarra, Yaw Amankwa Mireku, Eben Armah, Dan Quaye, Jacob Nettey, Osei Boateng, Charles Allotey, James Nanor, Francis Akwafo, Wisdom Abbey, Gabriel Opoku Ware, Iddrisu Yahya and Douglas Nkrumah. Enthusiastic supporters unions also contributed to the event’s energy.

KGL Executive Chairman, Alex Apau Dadey, praised football’s unifying power, highlighting its role in defining Ghanaian identity and democratic credentials.

He reaffirmed KGL’s ongoing commitment, noting $2 million recently allocated to the Black Stars and GH¢10 million for the 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. He also cited sponsorship of the inter-regional under-17 programme as part of a strategy to discover new talent.