Billionaire Sunderland Chairman calls on Speaker Bagbin to institutionalise Ghana football partnership
The owner and chairman of English Premier League side Sunderland AFC, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, has led a delegation to call on the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin, in Accra, as part of efforts to institutionalise a strategic partnership between the club and Ghana.
The visit follows a recent trip by the Speaker to the headquarters of the Premier League club, which forms part of ongoing discussions around the annual Democracy Cup match initiated by the Speaker.
Addressing a team of ministers and chief executive officers of corporate institutions, Mr Louis-Dreyfus said the visit was in response to the Speaker's earlier trip to the United Kingdom and represented a commitment to formalising the relationship between the club and Ghana.
"Sunderland AFC has over the years had different connections with Ghana, and it is time to institutionalise the relationship for the mutual benefit of both sides," he said.
He noted that the club has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Ghana, with the likes of Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari and John Mensah having once played for the Premier League side and made significant impacts with the team.
"We have had some great Ghanaian players playing for our club in the past, and they indeed contributed their quota to the team. We appreciate their contributions, and we see this relationship as a step towards a better future," Mr Louis-Dreyfus stated.
Commercial opportunities
Scott McCubbin, Commercial Manager of Sunderland AFC, highlighted the need to formalise and take advantage of the relationship between his outfit and Ghana. He said Ghana stands to benefit immensely from the partnership, especially in the areas of youth development and women's football.
Speaker Bagbin welcomes deeper ties
Rt. Hon. Bagbin commended the delegation for following up on his visit, describing it as an indication that the club was keen on institutionalising the relationship. He noted that the visit goes beyond football, as the delegation will take advantage of the trip to explore other areas of the Ghanaian economy and business opportunities.
"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. I hope the ministers and members of the business community will take advantage of the meeting and explore business opportunities available to them," Rt. Hon. Bagbin said.
He added that the Premier League club will also explore avenues to support and promote the annual Democracy Cup.
"Football is the most popular sport in the country, and the relationship will help strengthen its growth in Ghana. We are looking forward to having a deeper relationship with Sunderland to help us in the areas of youth development and women's football," he added.
A gesture of appreciation
The Speaker presented a special fugu, a traditional Ghanaian smock, to each member of the delegation as a symbol of goodwill and appreciation for their visit.
About the Sunderland chairman
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is a Swiss-French businessman and the billionaire chairman and majority owner of Sunderland AFC. Heir to the Louis-Dreyfus family fortune, he took over the club in 2021 at just 23 years old, making him the youngest chairman in English football.
