Civil society organisation Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development Ghana (VAST Ghana) has rejected the Ghana Football Association’s renewed appeal to remove restrictions on alcohol sponsorship in sport.
GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku revived the call on Wednesday, November 4, saying the ban had cost the Ghana Premier League a deal with Guinness Ghana worth more than US$5 million each year.
In a statement reported by Pulse Ghana, VAST Ghana said it recognised the financial challenges facing sport but warned that efforts to secure funding should not undermine protections for children.
“However, the financing of sports must not come at the expense of children’s health and protection,” the organisation said.
VAST Ghana referred to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) Guidelines for Advertisement of Regulated Products (FDA/DRI/DMS/GL-ADV/2023/01), introduced under Section 148 of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).
It said Guidelines 3.11.9(c), 3.11.10 and 3.12.1 prohibit adverts from linking alcoholic drinks with sporting activities or targeting people aged under 18.
The organisation argued that football sponsorship amounted to more than simply attaching a company logo to a team.
“Sponsorship of football is therefore not philanthropy with a logo attached. It is the purchase of advertising space on children’s shirts, on the boards behind the goal they sit behind, and in the broadcasts they watch,” the statement added.
VAST Ghana also challenged suggestions that the Ghana Sports Fund Act, 2025 (Act 1159) had authorised alcohol advertising at sporting events.
Section 3(j) of the Act assigns 10 per cent of beverage advertising costs to the fund. However, VAST Ghana said the legislation does not define the term “beverages” and does not remove the FDA’s regulatory authority.
The group noted that the FDA’s mandate had been upheld by the Supreme Court in a 5-2 ruling on June 19, 2024.
VAST Ghana also cited findings from the 2023 Ghana WHO STEPS survey, which reported that 12.6 per cent of adolescents aged 11 to 19 consume alcohol.
It proposed that sport should instead benefit from existing domestic excise taxes. Those taxes generated GH¢1.56 billion (US$125.70 million) in 2025, according to the organisation.
Labram Musah, speaking on behalf of VAST Ghana, said the GFA should seek public funding rather than promote alcohol brands around football.
“If the Association needs revenue, we will walk with them to the Ministry of Finance and argue for a share of excise tax revenue. Let the product pay for the game without putting its name on our screens, children’s shirts, etc.,” Musah said.
