Parliament has passed the Ghana Sports Fund Bill, 2025, into an Act subject to the President’s assent, to provide sustainable funding for sports development
The object of the Bill is to establish the Ghana Sports Fund to provide sustainable funding for sports development in the country and sport for development as well as provide for the management of the Fund.
The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has oversight responsibility for the development of sports and promotion of recreation in the country. Sports and recreation require adequate infrastructure to enable the nation to identify and nurture sporting talent and promote physical activity among the citizenry. There is also a need for adequate human resources to achieve the goal envisioned.
Over the years, the Ministry has mainly depended on central budgetary support and occasionally on philanthropic sponsorship to support activities of national athletes, the participation of national athletes in competitions, and the general provision of sporting infrastructure in the country.
Even though the central budgetary support has been regular, it has been largely inadequate in meeting the needs and growing demands of stakeholders and beneficiaries in the sporting sector. It is even more worrying when the Ministry decides to undertake capital-intensive projects with the intention of improving sports infrastructure in line with intemational standards required for the preparation of athletes for tournaments as well as hosting the tournaments. –
The Ministry, in bridging the gap between the central budget allocation and its need for investment, relies on benevolent support from individuals and organizations in the public and private sectors. There have been some significant rewards from these attempts in some specific sporting activities that are of interest to philanthropists and sponsors.
However, there have been complaints about the lack of a centralized entity to receive funds from philanthropists and sponsors. Even though specific accounts are opened for philanthropists and sponsors in times of need, this ad hoc approach does not synchronize with the principles and practice of stakeholders as the process is perceived to lack accountability and trend analysis for future decision-making.
