Parliament last week passed the Ghana Sports Fund Bill, 2025, aimed at providing adequate funding for sports development while promoting transparency and accountability in resource mobilisation and management within the sector.
The Bill outlines that proceeds from the fund will be used to develop sporting infrastructure and support capacity building for sports professionals and administrators. Funding sources will include allocations approved by Parliament, proceeds from special sports lotteries, and 10% of fees and charges collected by the Gaming Commission of Ghana from sports betting activities.
The passage of the Bill followed the adoption of the report by the Committee on Youth and Sports, which recommended leveraging subsidiary legislation, streamlining operational costs, and reviewing guidelines on alcohol beverage advertising during sporting events.
The report highlighted funding challenges in the sports sector and stressed the need for measures to close financing gaps, enabling Ghana to benefit from the expansion of the global sports revenue pool.
Debating the report, Second Deputy Minority Whip, Mr Jerry Ahmed Shaib, lamented the lack of support for lesser-known sports compared to football. He noted that budget allocations for sports were often minimal and that released funds predominantly favoured football.
Mr Shaib cautioned against politicising sports in Ghana, urging lawmakers to ensure sports remain non-partisan. He also questioned the proposal to generate funding from bonuses of Ghanaian athletes in the diaspora, noting that many athletes struggle to afford travel expenses to represent the country in international tournaments.
“I have weightlifters from the diaspora for whom I sometimes personally buy tickets to come and perform for the country,” he said.
The Ghana Sports Fund Bill, 2025, is expected to strengthen financial support across all sports disciplines and enhance Ghana’s competitiveness on the global stage.
By Benjamin Arcton-Tettey
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