John Mahama To Grace Hearts-Kotoko President Cup Clash On 1st July

After a stand-off between GHALACA nad participating clubs with threats of boycott, the 2015 President Cup has finally been scheduled for Wednesday at the Accra Sports stadium after an interventions from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

GHALCA confirmed yesterday, at a delayed press conference to launch the competition that, Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko finally accepting to face off at the Accra Sports Stadium on July 1. That's 48 hours ahead of kick-off.

The President’s Cup is an annual challenge scheduled for Ghana’s Republic Day - July 1 every year but it took a break last year with the last edition in 2013 won by Hearts of Oak. They defeated TP Mazembe in the finals of the competition which had four teams participating for the first time.

“Hearts are the defending champions and Kotoko will be challenging them for the trophy this year,” Ghalca boss Alhaji Ali Raji confirmed.

“We had a difficulty but we have been able to surmount it. Each club is to take home GHS 50,000 ($11,400) as participation fee while part of the proceeds goes to charity.

Ghana’s Sports Ministry has also assured of government’s commitment to have the 2015 President’s Cup honoured by revealing a GHS 120,000 (about $27,400) budget for the one-off game.

“It was a bit late by the organizers to finalize this game but we are committed to having this year’s President’s Cup come off.

“We are committing about GHS 120,000 into the game and about 80% is going directly to the clubs. The rest will be overhead costs,” deputy Minister for Sports, Vincent Oppong-Asamoah said.

President John Dramani Mahama expected to grace the occasion.