The Akuapim South Constituency came alive over the weekend with a vibrant two-day football festival as Member of Parliament Hon. Lawrencia Dziwornu, in collaboration with Decathlon Ghana, hosted the 2025 Showcase Tournament.
Held from July 19–20, the event brought together eight local teams, all playing under the theme “From the Community, For the Community.” The goal was simple but powerful — to unite the youth through football and uncover the next generation of sporting talent.
Beyond the action on the pitch, the tournament served as a platform for empowerment, exposure, and inspiration.
It aimed to support young people with dreams of building football careers both in Ghana and abroad. For Hon. Dziwornu, this was more than just a sporting event. It was a strategic step toward developing Akuapim South into a hub of leadership, talent, and opportunity.
My vision is to have our people across key roles in all walks of life across sports and business,” she said. “This is the beginning of something big for Akwapim South.
The competition featured eight community-based teams split into two groups. Group A included Banabas Aburi FC, Warriors FC, Courage Sporting Club, and Deportivo FC. Group B had Pokrom United, Okuapeman SC, Shaka Foundation, and Agape FC.
Each team was made up of 18 players, with unlimited substitutions allowed to ensure every player got the opportunity to play. Matches in the group stage were played in two halves of 15 minutes, while the knockout games extended to 25 minutes each half.
After an intense round of group-stage battles, four teams advanced to the semi-finals. Shaka Foundation edged Agape FC on penalties, while Banabas FC narrowly defeated Pokrom United 1–0. In the third-place playoff, Pokrom United returned to beat Agape FC via another penalty shootout.
The final was a thrilling affair, with Banabas FC and Shaka Foundation locked in a fierce battle that ended in penalties. Banabas FC emerged victorious, winning 6–5 to lift the trophy.
The tournament was not short of star power. Among the high-profile guests was the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, who praised the initiative and linked it to the government’s broader grassroots sports agenda.
You know, His Excellency the President has talked about grassroots schools and the need to develop them,” he remarked.
So when members of parliament take this seriously and organize such events, my role as minister is to lend support and motivate the young ones.
Also in attendance were former Black Stars player Afriyie Acquah, Jerry Akaminko, and Maxwell Konadu, whose presence served as added inspiration to the participants.
Their involvement reinforced the importance of grassroots football in Ghana’s broader sporting ecosystem.
The success of this year’s Showcase Tournament confirmed that football can be a powerful vehicle for change. Hon. Dziwornu emphasized the need to blend sports with education as a sustainable path for youth development. Quoting an African proverb, she said,
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
With momentum building and the community energized, Akuapim South has firmly positioned itself as a rising force in sports development and this tournament could be the foundation of something even greater to come.
