Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Member of Parliament for the Weija Gbawe Constituency and President of the Ghana Weightlifting Federation, is alleging that the government has reintroduced the betting tax it scrapped recently.
His comments come in as Parliament has passed the Ghana Sports Fund Bill, a law that seeks to introduce well-structured, sustainable, and accountable financing for sports development across the country.
The legislation was approved on Wednesday, December 18, 2025, after months of careful deliberation and broad-based collaboration.
Through the legislation, there would be the establishment of a Sports Development Fund, designed to transform athlete welfare, modernise infrastructure, strengthen grassroots programmes, and enhance talent identification nationwide.
The Ghana Sports Fund is projected to mobilise substantial resources annually through dedicated revenue streams, donations, and parliamentary allocations. It will be governed by an independent board under a strict accountability framework and aligned with the forthcoming National Sports Policy, guaranteeing transparency and long-term impact.
However, the MP bemoaned the multifaceted challenges plaguing Ghana’s sports sector.
Speaking on the floor, Hon Shaib emphasised that sports development in Ghana is hindered by inadequate budget allocation, poor releases, and a disproportionate focus on football at the expense of other disciplines. Jerry Ahmed, who holds a master’s in sports management from the University of Ottawa, cited his experience as deputy secretary general of the Ghana Olympist Committee, stating that the sports ministry’s budget allocation is virtually non-existent.
“The amount of money sent to the Ministry of Sports and Recreation is as if there’s no money at all,” he said. He criticised the government’s neglect of lesser-known sports, citing the Weightlifting Federation of Africa Championship, which received no government funding despite ministerial presence.
He urged lawmakers to make sports non-partisan, saying politicians often politicise sports for their gain. The President of the Ghana Weightlifting Federation slams the NDC government’s Ghana Sports Fund Bill, 2025, saying it includes betting taxes on Ghanaians.
“The NDC government is alternatively funding sources, including a special sports lottery and betting taxes on Ghanaians, emphasising the need for transparency and accountability in sports funding,” Shaib stated.
He criticised the government’s sports funding mechanisms as unreliable and prone to mismanagement, saying athletes shouldn’t fund sports development themselves.
Shaib urged policymakers to prioritise athletes’ welfare and sports development, making sports non-partisan. Hon. Jerry Ahmed Shaib has also criticised Ghana’s sports funding mechanisms, saying they are unreliable and prone to mismanagement.
Hon Shaib emphasised that athletes should not be expected to fund sports development with their own money.
He noted that some athletes in the diaspora are being asked to contribute to sports funding, despite struggling to participate in competitions.
He cited the example of weightlifters who had to export equipment to Angola for a competition and personally buy tickets to participate. He criticised the government’s focus on football, saying it neglects other sports, and urged a more inclusive approach.
The lawmaker also questioned the proposed funding sources, including sports lotteries and betting taxes, saying they are unreliable.
Shaib called for more transparent and sustainable funding mechanisms, including proper accounting and computerised ticketing systems. He urged policymakers to prioritise athletes’ welfare and sports development.
Concluding his remarks on the Ghana Sports Fund Bill, 2025, Shaib prayed that stakeholders would re-examine the sports sector and develop it in a way that benefits all Ghanaians, regardless of political affiliation.
“We don’t have an NDC Black Stars or an NPP Black Stars,” Shaib emphasised, urging policymakers to prioritise national interest over politics.
He thanked the Speaker for the opportunity to contribute to the discussion, highlighting the need for consensus on sports development.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
