The government has categorically refuted circulating reports suggesting that the cabinet has approved a new “Sports Levy” to fund the proposed National Sports Development Fund.
Mr. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications and Member of Parliament for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, made the definitive clarification via a Facebook post on Friday, October 10, setting the record straight on the financing mechanism for the much-anticipated fund.
The minister’s intervention follows days of speculation, largely stemming from comments attributed to a member of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), which implied that a new levy was the principal source of revenue for the Fund.
The Official Position: No New Levy
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu was emphatic in his statement, countering the widely reported claims:
“For the avoidance of doubt, NO such Levy has been proposed and neither has same been approved by Cabinet.”
He confirmed that the executive arm of government, under the leadership of the President, has given its full blessing to the foundational legal framework for sustainable sports funding.
He explained that “A proposed Bill was sent to Cabinet and approved for the establishment of a Sports Development Fund.”
This Bill, expected to be laid before Parliament soon, marks a critical step towards resolving the perennial funding crisis that has plagued Ghana’s sporting sector, forcing many national teams and athletes to struggle for resources.
In a bid to reassure the public that the government is not introducing a new tax burden, the minister pointed to the approved Bill’s provisions for revenue generation.
He indicated that the Fund will draw from existing, non-tax revenue streams within the sports and gaming ecosystem, stating:
He shared the document below detailing the sources of funding for the Sports Development Fund.
The establishment of the Fund, which the government hopes to operationalise by the first quarter of 2026 following parliamentary passage, is aimed at ensuring stable and predictable financing for grassroots development, maintenance of facilities like the Accra Sports Stadium, and support for all national sporting disciplines, including football, athletics, and boxing.
The clarification by Mr. Kwakye Ofosu serves as an official government disclaimer, separating the much-needed Sports Development Fund from any proposals for new direct levies or taxes.
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