Ghana to Finalise National Sports Policy and Sports Fund Regulations in 2027

The government will complete the National Sports Policy, finalise regulations for the Ghana Sports Fund, and review the Sports Act of 2016, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced, in a package of reforms aimed at replacing decades of ad hoc sports financing with a structured, legislated system.

Presenting the 2027 Budget Statement to Parliament on Thursday, November 12, 2026, Dr. Forson said the reforms would strengthen the institutional and legislative framework governing sports development in the country .

Policy Nearing Completion

The National Sports Policy has been in development since President John Mahama announced plans for a comprehensive policy in his first State of the Nation Address in February 2025, alongside an exhaustive review of the Sports Act of 2016 (Act 934) .

The Ministry of Sports and Recreation held a national validation workshop on the draft policy in September 2026 at the GNAT Hall in Accra, bringing together stakeholders to review and refine the document before its finalisation . Sports Minister Kofi Iddie Adams said at the time that the Ministry was working to complete the validation process and move the document through the required legislative procedures for consideration by Cabinet and Parliament .

The draft policy is aligned with global frameworks including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, AU Agenda 2063, and the ECOWAS Sports Framework, with the stated goal of transforming sports into a strategic tool for health promotion and economic development .

The Sports Fund: A New Financing Architecture

The Ghana Sports Fund, established under the Ghana Sports Fund Act, 2025 (Act 1159), is designed to provide structured, sustainable financing for sports development across all 16 regions, covering athlete development, infrastructure, coaching, and grassroots programmes .

The Fund is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors chaired by Prof. Koryoe Anim-Wright, with Dr. David Kofi Wuaku as Administrator . Its revenue sources include parliamentary allocations, sports lottery proceeds, 10 percent of sports betting taxes, 5 percent of gate proceeds from sporting events, 2 percent of sponsorship proceeds, corporate donations, and international partnerships .

In October 2026, the Fund began engaging national sports federations on eligibility requirements and application procedures. Under the Act, federations and associations in good standing with the National Sports Authority are eligible to apply, though eligibility does not automatically guarantee funding .

The finalisation of the Fund’s regulations in 2027 would operationalise these provisions, moving the Fund from establishment to active disbursement.

Review of the Sports Act

The government also intends to review the Sports Act, 2016 (Act 934), which established the National Sports Authority and provides the legal framework for the development, management, and promotion of sports in Ghana . The scope and timeline of the proposed amendments were not outlined in the budget statement.

Within a GH¢782 Million Envelope

The reforms sit within a broader GH¢782 million allocation to the Ministry of Sports and Recreation for 2027, which also includes GH¢600 million for the construction of ten multipurpose regional stadia and support for Ghana’s preparations to host the 2027 CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations .

As Parliament begins deliberations on the budget, the question will be whether the policy and regulatory reforms reach completion within the fiscal year—and whether the Sports Fund, once operational, delivers the predictable financing that the sector has long lacked.