Key Moments:
- The Ghanaian Cabinet has received the National Sports Fund bill, and parliament will review it next.
- The government has confirmed that no new tax will be introduced for the Fund’s financing at this stage.
- Funding sources for the Sports Fund include gate fees, betting company levies, and gaming ticket contributions.
Government Outlines Path for Sports Fund Financing
Ghana’s Ministry of Sports and Recreation has reaffirmed its plan to use existing funding streams to support the National Sports Fund. Moreover, the ministry will rely heavily on revenue from betting and gaming activities. The ministry will rely heavily on revenue from betting and gaming activities. The sector minister, Hon. Kofi Idi Adams, clarified that measures to create the Fund involve no new taxes in the proposed legislation. He explained this during a session in Accra, and he noted that the bill has already reached the Cabinet. T
Hon. Adams underscored that any introduction of additional taxation rests solely with parliament. He emphasized, “The bill that we have sent to Cabinet for approval, which is to be sent to parliament, does not have any such provision of a new tax. If parliament, in their wisdom, decides that they want to impose a tax to generate this Fund, that will be parliament’s decision, not what we are proposing now.”
Future Taxation Decisions Reserved for Parliament
The Ministry of Finance and parliament will lead any future discussions about sports-related taxes. This includes proposals linked to the 2026 Budget. Hon. Adams commented, “Well, I don’t know what the Finance Minister is going to do as far as taxation issues are concerned. Surely, he will take it to parliament. If parliament approves, fine.” In addition, he stated that the Fund may start with limited resources but will grow steadily as the system matures and contributions follow a more structured pattern.
Controversial Betting Tax Removed
This year, authorities repealed the betting tax that had drawn significant criticism from both betting patrons and industry analysts. They scrapped the measure, often called a “nuisance tax,” because many people doubted its effectiveness and questioned how officials applied it. Hon. Adams explained, “When something is good and is poorly done, it becomes difficult to immediately change it and say that, because you are having these good intentions, let’s just drift it that way. It doesn’t work that way. It would have been if, when they did that, it was being used for sports and not collecting it and using it for many other unnecessary things.”
Strategic Initiative Under National Development Plan
Furthermore, the initiative aims to inject new energy into a sporting sector that has suffered from chronic underfunding. The Fund will enhance infrastructure, support talent development, and expand training programs across multiple sports.
Hon. Adams outlined persistent infrastructure challenges for young athletes. He remarked on the inadequacy of training grounds, stating, “How many tracks do we have? Many schools are still running on undulating pitches where you have to look where to step because there are so many holes in the tracks. There’s no way you can produce Olympic-green athletes if you have such pitches.”
Enhancing Transparency and Accountability
Ensuring that the National Sports Fund operates transparently is a priority for the Ministry. Hon. Adams pledged that trained professionals will manage the Fund, and he stressed that beneficiaries must meet strict accountability standards. He affirmed, “It’s not going to be free money that you just come and take without accounting for any improvement. If you are supported, you have to prove that you have done something meaningful with the previous support before you qualify for another.” The United Kingdom’s model was highlighted as a reference point for success in sports funding mechanisms. “Look, the Anthony Joshuas and the rest that came here; it was out of the British Sports Fund that they created, which has supported athletes and created big-time boxers and world champions for them. We can also do that again,” he said.
Breakdown of Sports Fund Revenue Streams
| Revenue Source | Application |
|---|---|
| Gate Fees from Sports/Tourism Events | Primary allocation to the Sports Fund |
| Betting Company Levies | Key contribution to annual funding |
| Gaming Ticket Proceeds | Steady financial support for ongoing activities |
Focus on Sustainable Sports Sector Development
The Ghanaian government remains committed to revitalizing the domestic sports landscape via careful utilization of betting and gaming revenues as well as traditional funding sources. According to Hon. Adams, this approach is geared toward creating a stable ecosystem characterized by well-developed infrastructure, professional discipline, and efficient management. The National Sports Fund is expected to enable significant progress in advancing Ghana’s participation in the wider global sports community.
- Author
Daniel Williams
