For decades, Ghana’s sports economy has been defined by imbalance rather than intent.
While elite national teams, particularly the Black Stars, have attracted substantial state attention, the broader ecosystem of over 50 recognised sports federations has survived on crumbs: irregular budgetary releases, sporadic corporate goodwill, international grants and philanthropy.
The establishment of the Ghana Sports Fund marks a decisive attempt to correct that distortion and institutionalise sustainable financing across the entire sports value chain.
Passed into law by Parliament in December 2025 under Act 1159, the Ghana Sports Fund is a legally backed, dedicated financing vehicle designed to end decades of underfunding and ad-hoc resource allocation.
Its strategic importance lies in one central promise: predictable, diversified and accountable funding that frees Ghanaian sport from annual fiscal uncertainty and political bargaining.
This matters particularly in the context of the 2026 sports budget. Outside resources from the newly operational Sports Fund, government spending on sport remains heavily skewed.
The Black Stars continue to enjoy the lion’s share of funding, much of it outside the Ministry of Sports and Recreation’s allocation and financed directly from the Presidency.
Black Stars’ preparations
In 2026 alone, the government has budgeted GH¢150 million for the Black Stars’ preparations and participation in the FIFA World Cup, alongside commitments to other major international competitions such as the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
However, this headline figure masks a deeper reality. The Black Stars’ World Cup campaign is largely self-financing. FIFA provides substantial support for team preparation and pays an appearance fee of at least US$10.5 million, easing the direct fiscal burden on the state.
Yet, the optics remain the same: while football absorbs attention and resources, most federations continue to operate with little or no predictable funding for athlete development, grassroots programmes or administrative capacity.
It is precisely this structural imbalance that the Ghana Sports Fund seeks to address.
Its core objectives are unambiguous, as it seeks to close long-standing financing gaps for athletes, infrastructure, competitions and governance; to improve equity, transparency and accountability in sports financing; and to provide a sustainable base that reduces over-reliance on unpredictable annual budgetary allocations.
Leadership role
The leadership role of the Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Iddie Adams, has been pivotal.
Within a year of taking office, he delivered on his promise to shepherd the long-awaited Sports Fund Bill through Parliament.
In a policy environment often marked by stalled reforms, this follow-through has strengthened stakeholder confidence.
Inaugurating the Fund’s governing board in Accra, Mr Adams described the moment as a turning point, acknowledging that Ghanaian sport had for too long been financed in a “reactive and uneven” manner.
Too many federations, he admitted, had operated from crisis to crisis, while talent was lost not through lack of ability but lack of support.
The Fund’s design reflects lessons drawn from global best practice. Its revenue architecture is deliberately diversified to ensure resilience.
Core streams include parliamentary appropriations, proceeds from sports lotteries and gaming tickets, levies on sports betting operators, gate receipts, facility usage fees, sponsorships, athlete transfer fees, certification fees, and grants or donations from international partners.
Importantly, the government has stressed that the Fund introduces no new taxes on citizens; instead, it captures value already circulating within the sports and gaming ecosystem.
This approach mirrors successful models in advanced sporting nations. In the UK, National Lottery proceeds and government grants are ring-fenced for sport and channelled through agencies such as Sport England and UK Sport, underpinned by strict performance metrics.
Australia blends public funding with strong private-sector participation, long-term sponsorships and commercial partnerships to sustain both elite pathways and community sport. Ghana’s Fund aligns closely with these philosophies, particularly in its emphasis on diversification and ring-fencing.
Credibility
Governance safeguards are central to credibility. The Sports Fund is not, as the minister has stressed, a “slush fund”. It is governed by an independent 11-member board chaired by Prof. Koryoe Anim-Wright and made up of seasoned administrators, policy experts and respected sports figures, including boxing legend Azumah Nelson.
Day-to-day operations are managed by a substantive Administrator, Dr David Kofi Mawuvi Wuaku, a banking and finance professional whose appointment signals a deliberate shift towards professional financial management and accountability.
Mandatory internal audits, quarterly board meetings, annual reporting and external audits are embedded in the framework, while administrative costs are capped to prioritise programme delivery.
GCB Bank PLC’s appointment as the designated collecting bank further strengthens institutional discipline and transparency.
The wider 2026 sports budget context underscores why the Fund is so critical.
Beyond elite competition spending, the government has committed GH¢200 million in capital expenditure to construct six new mini-stadia across underserved regions.
This is arguably the most ambitious infrastructure push in recent years and signals a shift towards decentralised sports development.
Yet infrastructure without sustainable operational funding risks becoming underutilised assets.
The Sports Fund thus provides the mechanism to ensure such investments are activated through programmes, competitions and community engagement.
From a sustainability perspective, the Fund’s strengths are clear. Diversified revenue reduces dependence on any single source; legal backing enhances investor and stakeholder confidence; and the absence of new citizen taxes lowers political resistance.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
