Accra, Jan. 24, GNA - Benin's National Assembly (Parliament) soccer team on Saturday pipped their Ghanaian counterparts by a lone goal in a game that featured many Members of Parliament on each side. The international friendly formed part of activities to climax activities marking the 11th anniversary of the Fourth Republic. The celebrations also mark three years of administration of the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Government which was observed under the theme : "Good Governance through Democracy".

It was the Ghanaian side who took early control of the game exhibiting eye pleasing man to man short passes but failed to penetrate the defence of the visitors who fielded a number of youngsters including an agile keeper who ensured that no goal entered his net.

The Beninois Parliamentary team featuring nine MPs, after soaking the initial threat of their hosts gradually entered into the game and took total control and managing to hold their counterparts at bay but failing to penetrate the defence pivoted around Hon. Attuguaye Amarh with good goalkeeping from substitute goalie Hon. George Amoo.

The Ghanaian team captained by Alhaji Rashid Bawa, Minister of State at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and supported by Hon. Prince Oduro Mensah as well as Hon. Samuel Obodai up front made occasional breaks towards the goal area of the visitors but the chances that came their way were either wasted or lacked the finishing power. The visitors made several changes in the second half that paid dividends as they warmed their way into the game and making several incursions into the goal area of the homesters and in the 39th minute they rightly a penalty when their advancing attacker was brought down in the box.

Inside right Adje Samon made no mistake in displacing over confident Amoo to register the only goal of the match.

The game played for 30 minutes each half drew a sizable crowd and as the game was gradually drawing to a close, the Ghanaians threw everything into the game trying to find the much needed equalizer but it seemed Alhaji Bawa missed the services of Abuga Pele to slot in the ball into the net.

The homesters from then piled on the pressure trying to find the equalizer and making several attempts at goal but good defensive work denied them any goal till the referee whistled the end of proceedings.

Earlier, Mr Freddie Blay, First Deputy Speaker who officially took the kick-off said the games form the formal opening of the inauguration of sporting activities between the Parliaments of Ghana and Benin. He said the games are meant to foster friendship and inter-co-operation and hoped it would be extended to other parliaments in the African sub-region.

In a curtain raiser, the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) led by their burly captain Nurudeen Bawa managed to beat Electoral Commission 3 -2.

The Ghanaian side included Honourable George Amoo, Attuguaye Amarh, Prince Oduro Mensah, Alhaji Rashid Bawa, Alban Bagbin, Samuel Obodai Francis Osei-Sarfo, Eddy Akita, Dwamena Bekoe and Nii AyiBonte with moral support from Ms Akua Dansua, Mrs Edith Hazel and Nambur Berrik and Clerk of Parliament Mr Kenneth Tachie.