Ghana Sports Fund to transform sports financing and grassroots development – Simon Appiah Jnr Esq

The Deputy Administrator of the Ghana Sports Fund, Simon Appiah Jnr Esq., has outlined the vision behind the newly established institution, saying it was created to end Ghana's long-standing dependence on emergency fundraising for sporting activities and establish a sustainable financing system for sports development.

Speaking in an interview on Bubune FM's breakfast programme, hosted by Nana Yaw Asiamah, Appiah Jnr explained that the Ghana Sports Fund was established through an Act of Parliament in December 2025 to provide a reliable pool of funds for sports development across all disciplines.

According to him, successive governments have often been compelled to look for financial support only when major sporting competitions approach, a practice he described as unsustainable.

"The idea is to always have funds available so that when sporting activities arise, Ghana will not have to start looking for money before participating," he said.

Appiah Jnr explained that the Fund's core mandate is to mobilise, manage and invest resources to support sporting activities nationwide.

He disclosed that the Act establishing the Fund provides multiple sources of revenue, including annual government budgetary allocations, proceeds from a dedicated National Lottery game, a 10 percent allocation from government revenue generated through the Gaming Commission, five percent of gate proceeds from sporting events held in state-owned stadiums, investment partnerships and other approved funding streams.

He stressed that the Fund is not intended to serve football alone but every recognised sporting federation in Ghana.

According to him, football, athletics, volleyball, hockey, swimming, kickboxing and other sporting associations that meet the required governance standards, including maintaining audited accounts, will qualify to apply for financial support. Retired athletes, national teams and individual athletes representing Ghana at international competitions will also benefit.

He revealed that a Legislative Instrument (L.I.) is currently being prepared to outline the procedures for applying for support, adding that applicants who are dissatisfied with decisions of the Administrator will have the opportunity to appeal through the Board, the sector minister and, where necessary, the courts.

The Deputy Administrator emphasised that grassroots sports development remains the Fund's greatest priority. He said government intends to identify and nurture sporting talents from schools and local communities by investing in infrastructure, equipment and athlete development programmes.

He disclosed that the Fund plans to establish modern sports centres across the country, support school sports with equipment, provide scholarships for talented athletes and develop sports academies through partnerships with both local and international organisations.

Using communities in the Oti Region as examples, he said areas such as Tapa Abotoase, Amanya, Rara, Biakoye and Jasikan stand to benefit from future infrastructure and talent development initiatives.

"We want to move to the grassroots because that is where the talents are. We want children to have proper facilities, equipment and opportunities to develop into national athletes," he stated.

Appiah Jnr also assured that women and persons with disabilities remain an integral part of the Fund's development agenda. He noted that para-sports federations qualify for support under the Fund, while the governing board itself reflects gender balance, comprising six men and five women.

He further stated that the institution intends to pay greater attention to sporting disciplines that have historically received little support.

Despite the ambitious plans, the Deputy Administrator acknowledged that the Ghana Sports Fund is currently facing financial constraints. He explained that because the legislation establishing the Fund was passed after the 2026 national budget had been prepared, the institution has not yet received direct government funding.

He said the situation has delayed staff recruitment and slowed the implementation of some programmes. He also cited donor fatigue as another challenge, noting that many organisations had already contributed significantly towards previous national sporting events, making it difficult to secure fresh financial support.

Appiah Jnr therefore appealed to businesses and private organisations to partner with the Ghana Sports Fund, disclosing that corporate entities making financial contributions would receive tax incentives, allowing qualifying donations to be treated as tax-deductible.

He added that the Fund is open to investment partnerships capable of generating long-term revenue for sports development.

Looking ahead, he expressed optimism that within the next five years Ghana would have functioning sports academies, improved sporting infrastructure, better-equipped training centres and athletes consistently winning medals at major international competitions.

He said the vision extends beyond football to include athletics, boxing and other sporting disciplines while ensuring every region has access to quality training facilities.

As part of efforts to encourage nationwide participation, Appiah Jnr announced that the Ghana Sports Fund will introduce a USSD platform to enable Ghanaians to contribute directly towards sports development.

He disclosed that the shortcode *2027# is expected to become operational by 2027, allowing citizens to support the Fund with contributions of any amount.

He encouraged young athletes to remain disciplined, avoid drug abuse and continue pursuing their sporting dreams, assuring them that the Ghana Sports Fund is committed to creating opportunities for talented sportsmen and women across the country.

"The Ghana Sports Fund has come to change the game. We want every Ghanaian to become part of this national effort to build a stronger sporting future," he said.