Ghana Unveils Ambitious Sports Funding Proposals for 2026

On October 21, 2025, the Majority Leader of Ghana's Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, revealed that the Ministry of Sports and Recreation has prepared a series of legislative proposals to enhance the financing of sports in the country. Ayariga, a former Sports Minister, disclosed that the ministry will soon present key bills, notably the Sports Fund Bill, for consideration by Parliament.

The proposed Sports Fund Bill aims to create a sustainable pool of resources dedicated to sports development, capacity building, and athlete welfare across Ghana. According to a draft of the proposal, the Fund will be financed through various sources, including parliamentary allocations, special sports lotteries, grants, gifts, sponsorships, and taxes or revenues from sports betting companies. Additional inflows will come from gate proceeds, transfer fees of athletes, sponsorship deals, and support from international sports federations.

The Fund's objectives include ensuring adequate and equitable funding for sports, promoting transparency and accountability in resource mobilization, supporting sports research and innovation, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation within the sector. The accompanying Sports Fund Regulations will operationalize the law once passed, while the National Sports College Bill aims to enhance training and technical development for athletes and coaches.

The legislative package also includes an Anti-Doping Bill, which is expected to align Ghana's sports governance framework with international anti-doping standards. These proposals are part of the government's efforts to bolster the financing and governance of the sports sector in the country.