Sunderland AFC chairman leads delegation to Parliament to deepen Ghana partnership

Chairman and owner of Sunderland AFC, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, has led a delegation from the English club on a courtesy call to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin, as both parties seek to strengthen ties through sports and business collaboration.

The visit follows Speaker Bagbin's recent trip to the club's headquarters in England and forms part of a growing partnership linked to the annual Democracy Cup initiative championed by the Speaker.

Addressing a gathering that included ministers, chief executive officers, and representatives of the business community, Louis-Dreyfus said the delegation's visit was a reciprocal gesture aimed at building a lasting relationship between Sunderland AFC and Ghana.

He highlighted the club's historic connection with Ghana through former Black Stars players such as Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari, and John Mensah, all of whom made significant contributions during their time with the club.

"We have had different connections with Ghana over the years, and it is now time to institutionalise the relationship for the mutual benefit of both sides," Louis-Dreyfus stated.

Speaker Bagbin commended the Sunderland delegation for following up on his visit to the United Kingdom, describing the gesture as evidence of the club's commitment to building a meaningful and enduring partnership with Ghana.

According to the Speaker, the visit extends beyond football and presents opportunities for cooperation in business and investment.

"This visit goes beyond football. There are many business opportunities for us as a country to explore. That is why we carefully selected participants for this important meeting," he said.

"I hope the ministers and members of the business community will take advantage of the meeting and explore the opportunities available to them."

Bagbin also revealed that Sunderland AFC would explore ways of supporting and promoting the annual Democracy Cup, a competition designed to foster unity and strengthen democratic values through sport.

He expressed optimism that the partnership would contribute to the development of football in Ghana, particularly in youth and women's football.

"Football is the most popular sport in the country, and this relationship will help strengthen its growth in Ghana. We are looking forward to developing a deeper relationship with Sunderland to support youth development and women's football," he added.

As a symbol of Ghanaian culture and hospitality, the Speaker presented specially made fugu attire to each member of the Sunderland delegation at the end of the meeting.