Coleman said the Fund will bring long-needed structure and predictability to sports financing
Robert Tetteh Coleman, Chief Executive Officer of Wembley Sports Construction Limited, has welcomed the passage of the Ghana Sports Development Fund Bill, describing it as a bold and timely intervention that will significantly boost the growth, sustainability and professionalism of sports in the country.
Coleman said the Fund will bring long-needed structure and predictability to sports financing in Ghana, stressing that it will serve as a central platform for sports promotions, activities and sponsorships.
“The Sports Development Fund will unify funding efforts across the sector and eliminate the uncertainties that have plagued sports development for years,” he stated.
The Sports Development Fund Bill, moved by the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, was passed by Parliament on Thursday, December 18, 2025, after extensive deliberations involving both the Majority and Minority caucuses.
The Bill was introduced by the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and subjected to rigorous review by Cabinet, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Attorney-General, the Parliamentary Legal Committee and other key stakeholders.
The legislation is expected to end the long-standing challenge of financing sports in Ghana by establishing a clear and structured framework for mobilising and managing funds for sports infrastructure and development.
Under the new law, a multi-source, performance-driven Sports Development Fund will be established to support athlete welfare, infrastructure development, grassroots sports and nationwide talent identification.
Once operational, the Fund is projected to mobilise billions of Ghana cedis annually through diverse revenue streams, donations and budgetary appropriations and will operate in alignment with the forthcoming National Sports Policy.
Oversight will be provided by an independent governing board with clearly defined accountability mechanisms.
Sources of revenue for the Fund will include a Sports Lottery to be managed by the National Lottery Authority (NLA); five per cent of proceeds from sports events and activities; ten per cent of charges accrued by the Gaming Commission from betting operators; three per cent of earnings from players and athletes transferred outside Ghana and two per cent of proceeds derived from sponsorship of sporting activities.
Additional funding will come from proceeds generated from sports competitions and tournaments, ten per cent of proceeds from advertisements of beverages, returns on investments, as well as grants, donations and other approved contributions.
The Fund will be used to finance the development of sports infrastructure, support participation in local and international tournaments, organise sports events and competitions and facilitate the participation of national teams and athletes in international engagements.
It will also promote research, technology and innovation in sports, while providing welfare support for retired, injured and incapacitated athletes, including amateur and para-athletes.
Coleman further noted that the establishment of the Fund could unlock significant private sector investment in sports infrastructure, which he described as critical to nurturing young talent and positioning Ghana to host competitive regional and international sporting events.
The passage of the Bill, he added, reflects the broader vision of the Mahama administration to reimagine sports as a strategic tool for youth empowerment, economic growth, job creation and national development beyond the pursuit of medals.
With the Bill now passed, stakeholders across the sports sector are optimistic that the swift operationalisation of the Sports Development Fund will usher in a new era of structured, transparent and sustainable sports development in Ghana.
