The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has formally inaugurated the Governing Board of the Ghana Sports Fund, marking a significant step toward reforming sports financing in the country.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sector Minister Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams described the occasion as the start of a new era for Ghanaian sport, one anchored in transparency, accountability and deliberate investment. He noted that for decades, stakeholders across the sector had called for a dependable funding structure to support athletes, federations and infrastructure, a long-standing gap the Fund is now expected to fill.
“The Ghana Sports Fund is designed to change how sport is financed and how opportunity is distributed,” Adams said.
“Funding has long been uneven and unpredictable. This Fund will mobilise resources transparently for athlete development, grassroots sport, infrastructure and capacity building. It introduces planning where there was uncertainty, equity where there was imbalance, and accountability where there was discretion.”
The establishment of the Fund follows years of advocacy, policy engagement and political commitment, particularly under former President John Dramani Mahama, who positioned sport as a key pillar of national development. The initiative progressed from a Cabinet Memorandum to parliamentary approval of the Sports Fund Bill, before being enacted as Act 1159 through Presidential Assent.
While describing the Fund as a vital instrument, the Minister stressed that sound leadership and governance would ultimately determine its success. He charged the Governing Board to act with fairness and independence, insisting that decisions must prioritise merit and performance over personal or institutional interests.
“This Fund must serve sport, not interests. It must reward performance, not proximity,” Adams cautioned.
He also urged sports federations and athletes to align with the new framework by submitting well-structured proposals supported by clear programmes and measurable outcomes. According to him, effective implementation would help position sport as a viable career path for young people and enhance Ghana’s competitiveness on the continental and global stage.
The inauguration ceremony drew senior government officials, sports administrators, federation representatives and members of the media. With the board now in place, the responsibility lies with its members to ensure the Fund is managed prudently, transparently and in the best interest of Ghanaian sport.
Expressing optimism about the future, Hon. Adams said the Ghana Sports Fund has the potential to accelerate development, empower athletes and strengthen the country’s sports ecosystem.
The newly constituted Governing Board is chaired by Prof. Koryoe Anim-Wright, with Dr. David Wuaku serving as Fund Administrator. Other members include Azumah Nelson, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, Ernest Thompson, Mrs Wilhelmina Asamoah, Mr Duah Alhassan Oteng, Mrs Deborah Adei Djanie, Ms Belinda Plange, Hon. Rachel Florence Appoh and Hon. Dickson Kyere-Duah.
