What was intended to be a unifying celebration of culture, youth engagement, and peace through sports in the Bolgatanga Municipality took a dramatic turn when the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) walked out of the opening ceremony of the Frafra Inter-Community Unity Soccer Tournament after learning that ‘Friends of Prosper’ was the lead sponsor of the event.
The tournament, held at the Bolga AstroTurf Park, attracted hundreds of football fans, traditional leaders, youth groups, and community members from across Frafra-speaking communities in Bolgatanga.
According to organizers, the MCE arrived and took his seat at the high table before noticing a photograph of Prosper Ayinbila Awuni, a known aspirant for the Bolgatanga Central parliamentary seat. He reportedly questioned why the image was displayed and was informed that ‘Friends of Prosper’ was the tournament’s main sponsor.
“I was surprised,” said Nelson Abagna, one of the organizers. “When he saw the picture of Prosper, he asked why Prosper’s picture was displayed. I told him he is the main sponsor of the tournament, and he said if that is the case, he can’t take part. After saying that, he walked out, picked his vehicle, and left.”
The abrupt exit sparked reactions among organizers and participants, many of whom insisted the tournament was deliberately structured to remain non-political.
“This tournament is about unity, not politics,” said the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Anafo Alebya, popularly known as Sr. Aziz. “Friends of Prosper stepped in when we were struggling to raise funds. They provided jerseys, balls, refreshments, and prize money. If not for them, this tournament would not have happened.”
‘Friends of Prosper’ is widely associated with Prosper Awuni, an aspiring parliamentary candidate for the Bolgatanga Central Constituency. While the group maintains that it operates as a non-partisan social support network, its increasing involvement in community development initiatives has drawn political attention and, in some cases, controversy.
Despite the incident, organizers said the tournament continued as planned, with participating teams and supporters calling for sports to remain a platform for unity rather than political division.
Source: A1 Radio | 101.1Mhz | Samuel Adagom | Bolgatanga
