Who benefits, how to apply, and when – Inside Ghana’s Sports Fund

By Maxwell Kumoye 

 

 

Ghana’s drive to create a more sustainable and accountable financing system for sports has taken shape with clearer guidelines on how athletes and federations can access the Ghana Sports Fund.

Established by the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, the Fund is designed to bridge the gap between limited central government budget allocations and the growing investment needs of sports development across the country. 

It also seeks to reduce over-reliance on state funding by creating a structured channel for support from individuals, philanthropists and private organisations.

HOW TO ACCESS THE FUND

Eligible athletes, teams and national sports federations are required to submit a formal application to the Fund Administrator. 

Applications must be made in the prescribed manner and using the approved forms.

Once an application is received, the Administrator has a maximum of 10 days to respond. 

The application may either be approved, with the applicant notified in writing, or refused, with clear reasons provided for the decision.

For applicants who are dissatisfied with the outcome, the process allows for further review. 

An appeal can be submitted to the Fund’s Board within 30 days of receiving the Administrator’s decision. 

If the applicant remains unhappy after the Board’s review, the matter can be escalated to the Minister, who is expected to communicate a final decision within 14 days.

Why The Fund Matters

According to the Ministry, the Ghana Sports Fund was created to address long-standing concerns about fragmented and ad hoc funding arrangements in the sector. 

While philanthropists and sponsors have historically supported certain sports of interest, the absence of a centralised structure has raised issues of accountability, transparency and long-term planning.

In some cases, special accounts were opened to receive donations during periods of need. 

However, authorities admit this approach did not align with best practices, as it limited trend analysis and weakened confidence among key stakeholders.

“The Ghana Sports Fund is to provide sustainable funding for sports development in the country and sport for development, to curtail over-reliance on the central Government,” the Ministry noted.

Beyond funding competitions and development programmes, the Fund is also expected to manage incentives, insurance coverage and welfare packages for athletes and area that has often been overlooked despite its importance to performance and athlete well-being.

With clearer access procedures now outlined, stakeholders across Ghana’s sporting landscape are hopeful the Fund will mark a turning point in financing, accountability and long-term growth for sports in the country.