By Adnan Adams Mohammed
In a landmark ceremony at the Ministry’s headquarters in Accra, the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, officially inaugurated the 11-member governing board of the Ghana Sports Fund. The event marks the operational takeoff of the Sports Fund Act, 2024 (Act 1159), a piece of legislation passed just last month to provide a permanent solution to the nation’s perennial sports financing challenges.
The board, described by the Minister as a “turning point for Ghanaian sports,” is tasked with managing a multi-source fund designed to support athlete welfare, infrastructure development, and grassroots talent identification across all sporting disciplines.
The new board is chaired by Professor Koryoe Anim-Wright, with investment banker and former Black Stars Management Committee member Ernest Thompson bringing critical fund management expertise.
Notably, the board includes legendary three-time world boxing champion Azumah Nelson, representing the interests of athletes. Dr. David Kofi Wuaku has been appointed as the Fund’s Administrator to oversee day-to-day operations.
The 11-Member Governing Board:
● Chairperson: Prof. Koryoe Anim-Wright
● Administrator: Dr. David Kofi Wuaku
● Athlete Representative: Mr. Samuel Azumah Nelson
● NSA Representative: Mr. Yaw Ampofo Ankrah (Director-General, NSA)
● Ministry of Sports Representative: Mrs. Wilhelmina Asamoah (Chief Director)
● Ministry of Finance Representative: Mr. Duah Alhassan Oteng (Technical Adviser)
● Ministry of Local Gov. Representative: Mrs. Deborah Adei Djanie
● Other Members: Mr. Ernest Thompson, Ms. Belinda Plange, Madam Rachel Florence Appoh, and Mr. Dickson Kyere-Duah.
“Leadership Transforms, Not Just Money”
Addressing the board, Minister Kofi Adams was blunt about the expectations of the Ghanaian public. He warned that the mere existence of a fund would not cure the ills of the sector without disciplined governance.
“Let me be clear, fund alone does not transform sports; leadership does, governance does, discipline does,” Adams stated. “The fund must serve sports, not interests; reward performance, not proximity; and invest in systems, not shortcuts.”
He charged the board to ensure that resources are distributed equitably, moving away from the “reactive” funding model where athletes often prepare for major competitions without financial assurance.
Fueling the Future: GH₵700k Saved for the Fund
The inauguration comes on the heels of the Ministry’s successful “budget rationalization” drive. On January 22, during a visit by Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Minister Adams revealed that the Ministry saved GH₵700,000 over the last two Black Stars games by cutting costs.
The saved funds, along with expected proceeds from Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup participation, are expected to serve as seed capital for the Fund. Parliament passed the bill on December 18, 2025, authorizing the Fund to mobilize revenue from sports lotteries, betting taxes, gate proceeds, and athlete transfer fees.
Vice President Opoku-Agyemang praised the move, urging the Ministry to create “facilities that generate funds” rather than relying solely on government appeals.
The Road Ahead
With the 2026 World Cup and Commonwealth Games on the horizon, the board faces immediate pressure to stabilize the finances of lesser-known sports and finalize the National Sports Policy.
For national athletes both active and retired the message from the Ministry today was one of hope: for the first time in decades, the “finish line” for sports poverty in Ghana may finally be in sight.
