Sport and sustainable social development in Ghana: analysing the policy-implementation gap

The global optimism for sport as ‘an important enabler of sustainable development’ by the United Nations appears in many countries’ policy documents. In Ghana, sport is linked to the social dimension of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But the acknowledgement of the potential of sport, in itself, cannot be the decisive evidence of deep commitment or successful implementation. The research analyses how sport partners (governmental and non-governmental) have been involved and resourced in implementing the government’s commitment to the community health and well-being policy. Qualitative data were derived from government policy documents, government officials and key actors from non-state sport organisations. Matland’s Ambiguity-Conflict Model was the theoretical framework used to analyse the policy-implementation link. The findings identified challenges in policy implementation associated with resources distribution, non-involvement of local implementing actors, football’s overbearing importance and legitimation of sport for development organisations. The impact of these challenges for sustainability were discussed.