The National Investment Bank (NIB) PLC has donated GH₵100,000 to the Ghana Sports Fund, becoming the first institution to contribute since the Fund became operational.
The cheque was presented on Friday by Esther Agyemang Prempeh, Acting Chief Client Experience and Corporate Communications Officer, on behalf of NIB management. She described the contribution as reflecting the bank’s recognition of sports as a driver of national development and youth empowerment.
The gesture reflects the Bank’s commitment to supporting national development beyond its core financial mandate. Agyemang Prempeh emphasized that the donation forms part of NIB’s corporate social responsibility initiatives and demonstrates confidence in structured sports financing mechanisms.
Dr. David Kofi Wuaku, Administrator of the Ghana Sports Fund, expressed gratitude to NIB, describing the support as historic, and expressed optimism that the donation would encourage more institutions to contribute. He thanked NIB for taking the lead and expressed hope that the contribution would pave the way for additional corporate and individual donors.
The donation was received jointly by Dr. Wuaku and Prof. Korye Anim-Wright, Chairperson of the Support Fund Board. Dr. Wuaku emphasized that adequate financing is essential for sports development nationwide, noting that the board and government would deploy the funds to promote Ghanaian sports development, support athlete welfare, build infrastructure, and strengthen grassroots programs.
Mr. Kofi Iddie Adams, the Minister for Sports and Recreation, also commended NIB for taking what he termed a bold and exemplary step. The minister highlighted chronic underfunding as the single biggest challenge facing Ghana’s sports sector and described the contribution as enabling the fund to begin effective operations.
Minister Adams assured stakeholders that all contributions received would be used strictly for the purposes for which the fund was established, signaling transparency and accountability in resource management.
Established under Act 1159 and passed by Parliament in December 2025, the Ghana Sports Fund is a legally backed financing mechanism aimed at ending years of chronic underfunding within the sports sector. The fund is mandated to mobilize and manage resources transparently for athlete development, grassroots sports, infrastructure construction and maintenance, capacity building, and high-performance preparation.
The presentation ceremony was attended by several senior officials from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, the Ghana Sports Fund administration, and NIB. Present were Chief Director of the Ministry Wilhelmina Asamoah, Director of Accounts Perpetual Tawiah, and other ministry officials alongside representatives from NIB and the Sports Fund Board.
NIB’s contribution positions the state-owned commercial bank as a key partner in Ghana’s effort to build sustainable sports financing beyond football. The donation is expected to inspire additional corporate and individual contributions, reinforcing shared objectives of elevating Ghanaian athletes and sporting institutions.
National Investment Bank was established in 1963 as Ghana’s first development bank with a mandate to promote rapid industrialization across all economic sectors. The bank operates as a universal bank licensed by the Bank of Ghana and has undergone institutional and financial restructuring to strengthen its development and commercial banking activities.
The Ghana Sports Fund represents a strategic shift toward structured, transparent financing for Ghanaian sports, addressing longstanding resource constraints that have hindered athlete development and infrastructure expansion. With NIB’s pioneering contribution, the fund now begins operational deployment of resources toward its stated objectives of youth empowerment, preventive healthcare through sports, and wealth creation.
