Four Premier League teams—Fearsome Elmina Sharks, Hearts of Oak, Karela Utd and Ebusua Dwarfs—will compete in a round-robin competition to determine the winner of the coveted 2018 Bakatue Festival Gala Cup at the Nduom Sports Stadium on July 8, 2018.

As part of activities lined up for the weeklong celebration of Bakatue, the Omanhen of Elmina, Nana Kodwo Conduah VI, sent out invitations to the owners and management of Hearts of Oak, Karela Utd and Ebusua Dwarfs who have all confirmed their participation.

The pairings have been done for the opening games with host, Elmina Sharks, taking on Hearts of Oak in the opening match. Ebusua Dwarfs will also engage Karela Utd in the second of the preliminary games. Three points is awarded for each win.

The two teams with the most points shall advance to compete for the Bakatue 2018 trophy. There will be twenty-five minutes for each half, with a ten minutes break. Matches that end in stalemate shall proceed straight into penalties.

“I have extended a special invitation to the President of National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede the XIV, who has graciously agreed to grace the occasion. Togbe will be at the grand durbar on the 7th of July, and will also perform the ceremonial kickoff for the gala competition,” Nana Conduah VI told the press.

Togbe Afede is the President of the National House of Chiefs, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State as well as President of the Asogli Traditional Area.

Bakatue is a festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Elmina. The celebration of the festival dates to as far back as 1860. It is celebrated to mark the beginning of the fishing season in the land of the people of Elmina. During the celebration, prayers and sacrifices are offered to the gods for a good fishing season and protection of the fishermen who will go to sea.