High-Powered Sunderland AFC Delegation Calls on Speaker of Parliament to Deepen Ghana Partnership
A high-level delegation from newly promoted English Premier League club Sunderland AFC, led by owner and chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, in Accra.
The visit forms part of efforts to strengthen ties between Sunderland AFC and Ghana following a recent trip by the Speaker to the club’s headquarters in the United Kingdom. The growing relationship is also linked to the annual Democracy Cup initiative, spearheaded by the Speaker of Parliament to promote democracy, unity and sports development.
Addressing a gathering that included government ministers, chief executive officers and business leaders, Louis-Dreyfus described the visit as a reciprocal gesture aimed at consolidating the emerging partnership between Sunderland AFC and Ghana.
He highlighted the club’s historic connection with Ghana, recalling the contributions of former Black Stars stars Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari and John Mensah, all of whom represented Sunderland with distinction during their careers in England.
“Sunderland AFC has enjoyed strong connections with Ghana over the years, and we believe the time has come to institutionalise this relationship for the mutual benefit of both parties,” Louis-Dreyfus said.
“We have been privileged to have some outstanding Ghanaian players represent our club. Their contributions left a lasting impact, and we see this partnership as the beginning of an exciting new chapter.”
Commercial Manager Scott McCubbin underscored the importance of formalising the relationship, stressing that Ghana stands to gain significantly from closer collaboration with the club, particularly in youth football development and the advancement of the women’s game.
He noted that Sunderland AFC is eager to share expertise and explore opportunities that could contribute to the growth of football in Ghana while creating lasting links between the two institutions.
Speaker Bagbin commended the Sunderland delegation for following through on discussions initiated during his visit to the United Kingdom, describing their presence in Ghana as a clear demonstration of commitment to building a long-term partnership.
According to the Speaker, the visit extends beyond football and presents a valuable opportunity to explore investment prospects and broader economic cooperation between Ghana and the United Kingdom.
“This visit goes beyond football,” Bagbin stated. “There are significant business opportunities for Ghana to explore, which is why we deliberately brought together ministers, business executives and other key stakeholders for this engagement.
“I encourage members of the business community and government representatives to take full advantage of this opportunity to build meaningful partnerships and unlock new areas of cooperation.”
The Speaker further revealed that Sunderland AFC would play a role in supporting and promoting the annual Democracy Cup, an initiative designed to harness the power of sport to strengthen democratic values and national unity.
“Football remains the most popular sport in Ghana, and this relationship has the potential to contribute significantly to its development,” he said.
“We look forward to deepening our collaboration with Sunderland AFC, particularly in the areas of youth development, women’s football and broader sports advancement.”
As a symbol of Ghanaian hospitality and cultural appreciation, Speaker Bagbin presented each member of the Sunderland delegation with a specially crafted fugu, a traditional smock renowned for its rich cultural significance.
The visit marks another important step in strengthening sporting, cultural and economic ties between Ghana and Sunderland AFC, with both sides expressing optimism about the opportunities the partnership could create in the years ahead.
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