The Ministry of Finance is set to give budgetary approval for the National Sports Authority (NSA) to fill 450 staff vacancies.

This follows weeks of discussions between the management of the NSA, the Sports Ministry, and the country’s purse regulator, the Finance Ministry.

Vacancies will be announced once the NSA receives clearance from the Finance Ministry.

Last month, the NSA governing board clashed with the Yaw Ampofo Ankrah-led management over the recruitment of 17 staff.

The governing board held the view that recruitments were not done in consonance with the laid down procedure, without board approval.

However, at the time of the recruitment, there was no board in place.

Yaw Ampofo Ankrah was appointed as Director General of the NSA in March 2025, while the governing board was only inaugurated in December 2025. The 17 appointments, according to the NSA, were emergency recruitments that needed to be made for the operations of the NSA to be effective.

While the difference in procedure became an issue, it has since been resolved, leading to efforts to secure the financial clearance to fill the 450 vacancies at the NSA since 2024.  

The individuals in question have subsequently been directed by the Minister of Sports to reapply in order for the Public Services Commission to regularize their employment.

Some key areas affecting NSA staff shortage include technical field officers such as coaches, grassroots sports development officers, and researchers. It is also understood that the estates, security, IT, and marketing units of the NSA are all woefully understaffed.