The government has approved the introduction of a Sports Levy as the new primary source of funding for the Sports Development Fund, a move seen as a direct replacement for the recently scrapped betting levy that had faced widespread public backlash.
The proposal, which has received cabinet approval, is part of a broader plan to establish a sustainable and transparent financing model for sports in Ghana. President John Mahama gave his blessing to the initiative in September, paving the way for the drafting of a bill that will soon be presented to Parliament.
Confirming the development to JoySports, Evans Yeboah, Treasurer of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), said the levy will provide a steady inflow of funds to support sports infrastructure, athlete development, and national federations.
“There is an incoming Sports Levy that would go into the fund. There is a top-up from the Gaming Commission, so there is a revolving fund within that sector as well,” Yeboah disclosed.
According to government sources, the bill is expected to be laid before Parliament when the House resumes sittings. The Sports Development Fund is expected to be fully operational by 2026, providing a centralized pool of resources to support sporting disciplines across the country.
“It got cabinet approval two weeks ago, and it is looking to get to Parliament very soon. We are hoping that by the end of the year or by the end of the first quarter next year, the Sports Fund will be launched, and that will go to assist all the national federations,” Yeboah added.
The new levy comes just months after the controversial 10% betting levy, imposed on winnings from sports betting and lotteries. was abolished following public outcry, particularly among Ghana’s youth. Critics argued that the betting tax unfairly targeted the unemployed and had little direct benefit for sports development, despite earlier claims that proceeds would be channeled into the sector.
With the introduction of the Sports Levy, government officials say the aim is to create a more structured and equitable system that directly benefits the country’s sporting ecosystem rather than relying on taxes from betting.
When passed, the Sports Development Fund will serve as the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ primary revenue source, financing both capital and operational projects such as stadium rehabilitation, athlete preparation for international tournaments, and sports infrastructure development.
“What is in it is that there is going to be a pool of funds that is reserved to assist national federations, especially the first priority, which is world championships and other major competitions,” Yeboah noted.