The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, inaugurated the Governing Board of the Ghana Sports Fund on Friday, January 23, 2026, in Accra.
The 11-member board is chaired by Professor Karyoe Anin-Wright, with three-time world boxing champion and Hall of Famer Azumah Nelson among its members. Former Black Stars Management Committee member and investment banker Ernest Thompson serves on the board, bringing fund management expertise, while Dr David Kofi Wuaku has been appointed Administrator.
The National Sports Authority is represented on the board by its Director-General, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.
The Ministry of Sports and Recreation is represented by its Chief Director, Mrs Wilhelmina Asamoah, with the Ministry of Finance nominating Mr Duah Alhassan Oteng as Technical Adviser.
From the local governance space, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs is represented by Mrs Deborah Adei Djanie, Director of Human Resource Management and Development.
With the board now in place, focus has shifted to the ultimate beneficiaries of the Fund and the processes through which support can be accessed.
Established under the Sports Fund Act, 2024 (Act 1159), the Ghana Sports Fund represents a decisive shift in how sport is financed, prioritised and governed within the national development agenda, per Kofi Adams. The Act provides clear direction on who qualifies for support, how applications are processed and the timelines that guide decision-making and disbursement.
WHO CAN ACCESS THE FUND AND HOW
Per the law passed in December 2025, the beneficiary base is across the sports value chain. National athletes are eligible for support, as are retired national athletes whose welfare remains a concern of the state.
Federations and associations in good standing with the National Sports Authority (NSA) can also benefit, while the Board retains discretionary power to approve other persons or entities deemed eligible under the objectives of the Fund. This structure allows the Fund to respond not only to elite performance needs but also to long-term development and welfare considerations within Ghanaian sport.
To access the Fund, an eligible athlete or federation must submit a formal application to the Fund Administrator. Upon receipt, the Administrator is required, within ten days, to either approve the application and notify the applicant in writing, or refuse it, stating clear reasons for the refusal.
Applicants dissatisfied with decisions of the Administrator can seek redress. An affected person may seek a review by the Board within 30 days of receiving a decision. If still dissatisfied, the matter can be escalated to the Minister, who is required to communicate a decision within 14 days.
The Fund per the Ministry is to bridge the “gap between the central budget allocation and its need for investment, relies on benevolent support from individuals and organisations in the public and private sectors.”
Though “there have been some significant rewards from these attempts in some specific sporting activities which are of interest to philanthropists and sponsors. However, there have been complaints about the lack of a centralised entity to receive funds from philanthropists and sponsors. Even though specific accounts are opened for philanthropists and sponsors in times of need, this ad hoc approach does not synchronise with the principles and practice of stakeholders as the process is perceived to lack accountability and trend analysis for future decision-making.
“The Bill seeks to establish the Ghana Sports Fund to provide sustainable funding for sports development in the country and sport for development to curtail over-reliance on central Government. The Bill is also expected to manage incentives, insurance covers and provide welfare packages for athletes.”
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