Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament has said the match between Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko will reignite the competitive rivalry between the two clubs.
“The match would no doubt, re-ignite the competitive rivalry between Kotoko and Hearts, but at the end of the day, only one team would win.
“In the spirit of sportsmanship, losing teams, in football matches organised on the principles of fairness and sportsmanship accept defeat and try their luck next time.
Launching the maiden edition of the Democracy Cup, the Speaker said they could extend this analogy to elections, which, like football matches, were always characterized by competition and intense rivalry. Still, at the end of the day, only one candidate or political party would emerge as the winner.
“It is therefore imperative that in the spirit of patriotism and unity, other candidates or parties that do not win accept the outcome of the elections and support whichever party is elected for the nation's development,” Speaker Bagbin said.
“I therefore urge the Electoral Commission, the centre referee for the upcoming elections, to conduct the exercise in a free, fair, transparent, peaceful and credible manner.”
He thanked the two teams, Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak for accepting Parliament’s invitation to vie for the Democracy Cup.
He said the sports event should be an opportunity to reemphasize the importance of sports in promoting healthy living and fostering friendships and unity.
“After all, we need healthy bodies and healthy minds to contribute in diverse ways to the development of our democracy,” he said.
He said the launch of the Democracy Cup was further evidence of Parliament’s commitment to promoting initiatives aimed at strengthening the foundation of Ghana’s democracy.
He said the Democracy Cup was another perfect avenue for bridging the gap between Parliament and the people of Ghana who were duly represented by their
Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko would lock horns on July 5, at the Accra Sports Stadium for the maiden edition of the Democracy Cup.