Government Quashes Sports Levy Rumors: Explains Funding Sources
Accra , Ghana - October 10,2025 – The Mahama administration has firmly denied reports that Cabinet has approved a new "Sports Levy" to finance the proposed National Sports Development Fund. Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, described the reports as "false and misleading" in a statement shared on social media on Friday, October 10.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu clarified that while Cabinet has indeed approved the establishment of a Sports Development Fund, the funding sources outlined in the official document do not include any form of levy. "For the avoidance of doubt, no such levy has been proposed, and neither has same been approved by Cabinet," he emphasized.
The Minister explained that the Fund will be supported by existing non-tax revenue sources within the sports and gaming ecosystem. This approach, he said, is designed to ensure sustainable and predictable funding for Ghana's sporting sector without placing additional financial pressure on citizens.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu urged the public to disregard the false reports suggesting otherwise.
The Sports Development Fund is expected to provide consistent support for grassroots sports, facility maintenance, and national teams across various disciplines, including football, athletics, and boxing. The government expects the Fund to become operational by the first quarter of 2026, providing stable funding for Ghana's sporting sector.
The controversy surrounding the Sports Levy arose from comments attributed to a member of the Ghana Olympic Committee, which suggested that the new fund would rely on a special levy for its financing.
Source – Lead News Online/Shiela Amerley Biala
