Accra Hearts of Oak edged city rivals Accra Great Olympics to lift the maiden 2025 Democracy Cup at the University of Ghana Stadium, on Friday, September 5, 2025, marking another proud chapter in the history of Ghana’s most famous derby.
Hearts of Oak beat Great Olympics 1-0 to lift the trophy.
The keenly contested fixture drew thousands of passionate fans, parliamentarians, government officials, and football dignitaries.
President John Dramani Mahama set the tone for the evening by performing the ceremonial kickoff after exchanging pleasantries with both teams.
The first half produced an evenly balanced contest, with Hearts of Oak carving out more chances but Great Olympics remaining resolute in defense to keep the game level.
After the interval, Hearts stepped up their intensity, boosted by tactical substitutions. Their persistence paid off in the 70th minute when substitute Kwesi Asmah connected with a pinpoint pass and drilled the ball into the net from close range — the decisive moment of the final.
The Phobians continued to search for a second goal, but a lack of composure in front of goal saw them squander several opportunities.
At the other end, Olympics nearly found a late equalizer, only to be denied by a brilliant save from goalkeeper Sherrif Shuaib, who preserved Hearts’ narrow lead.
The victory not only handed Hearts the Democracy Cup but also secured them an international opportunity: a friendly against a yet-to-be-confirmed side in Germany.
At the post-match ceremony, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, assisted by Ga Mantse Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, presented the glittering trophy to the jubilant winners.
The Democracy Cup is an event championed by Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to promote the tenets of democracy in the country, and the first edition took place last year, with Kumasi Asante Kotoko beating Hearts of Oak to win the title.
It is an annual one-off football match organised by the Parliament of Ghana to promote civic engagement, national unity, and democratic values.
Launched in 2024 to mark 30 years of parliamentary democracy, the competition features prominent Ghanaian football clubs, with Asante Kotoko winning the first edition against Hearts of Oak. A curtain-raiser match between Members of Parliament and former Black Stars players also takes place.
