The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Idi Adams, has firmly dismissed claims that the government intends to introduce a new tax to finance the establishment of the proposed National Sports Fund.
He emphasized that the government’s plan is to utilize existing revenue streams rather than impose additional tax burdens on citizens.
Speaking in Accra, the Minister explained that the bill establishing the Sports Fund has already been submitted to Cabinet for approval and would soon be forwarded to Parliament, stressing that the proposed bill contains no provision for a new tax
“The bill that we have sent to Cabinet for approval, which is to be sent to Parliament, does not have any such provision of a new tax. If Parliament, in their wisdom, decides that they want to impose a tax to generate this fund, that will be Parliament’s decision, not what we are proposing now”.
Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Idi Adams
According to him, the decision to introduce a sports tax in the 2026 Budget would rest solely with the Ministry of Finance and Parliament. “Well, I don’t know what the Finance Minister is going to do as far as taxation issues are concerned. Surely, he will take it to Parliament. If Parliament approves, fine,” he stressed.
He, however, acknowledged that the initial revenue generated for the Sports Fund might not be significant but expressed optimism that it would grow over time.
Scrapping of Controversial Betting Tax
Touching on the government’s decision to scrap the controversial betting tax—widely criticized by the public as a “nuisance tax”—the Minister admitted that while the intention behind the policy might have been good, its implementation was flawed.
“When something is good and is done badly, it becomes difficult to immediately change it and say that, because you are having these good intentions, let’s just drift it that way.
“It doesn’t work that way. It would have been if, when they did that, it was being used for sports and not collecting it and using it for many other things that were unnecessary”.
Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Idi Adams
Hon. Adams reiterated that the Sports Fund, a flagship initiative of the current administration led by President John Dramani Mahama, was a key manifesto promise aimed at reviving Ghana’s sports sector, which has suffered years of neglect.
He said the Fund will focus on supporting the development of sports infrastructure, training, and talent identification across all sporting disciplines in the country when fully established.
“The Sports Fund will support sports infrastructure. It will support the growth of especially key sports areas. Football is one of them, and athletics. I love athletics so much, sitting here, but we have not funded it enough.
“How many tracks do we have? Many schools are still running on undulating pitches where you have to look where to step because there are so many holes in the tracks. There’s no way you can produce Olympic-green athletes if you have such pitches.”
Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Idi Adams
Commitment to Prudent Use of Fund
The Minister assured that the management of the Fund will be transparent and insulated from political influence. According to him, professional fund managers—not political appointees—will oversee its operations, ensuring accountability and value for money.
Beneficiaries, he said, will be required to apply formally, justify their needs, and provide clear evidence of progress before qualifying for subsequent support.
“It’s not going to be free money that you just come and take without accounting for any improvement. If you are supported, you have to prove that you have done something meaningful with the previous support before you qualify for another”.
Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Idi Adams
He cited the United Kingdom’s model as a successful example of a sports funding system that has produced global champions. “Look, the Anthony Joshuas and the rest that came here—it was out of the British Sports Fund that they created, which has supported athletes and created big-time boxers and world champions for them. We can also do that again,” he noted.
The Minister indicated that the proposed Sports Fund will draw revenue from specific existing sources such as gate fees from sports and tourism events, levies on proceeds from betting companies, and contributions from gaming tickets.
These measures, he emphasized, will ensure that Ghana’s sports sector has a reliable and sustainable funding mechanism without placing new financial burdens on the public.
Hon. Adams reaffirmed the government’s commitment to revitalizing Ghana’s sports ecosystem by investing in talent development, infrastructure, and fair funding mechanisms that ensure accountability.
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