“We’re Leaving Millions on the Table” — Jamil Maraby Pushes for Review of Alcohol Sponsorship Ban

Ghana’s sports industry could be missing out on significant financial opportunities, according to Jamil Maraby, who has called for a rethink of restrictions on alcoholic beverage sponsorship in the country.

Speaking on the issue, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Director of Marketing argued that banning such partnerships does little to address alcohol consumption while depriving sports of much-needed revenue.

“Whether we advertise or not, people will drink,” Maraby stated. “So why not allow the companies generating that revenue to give back to society?”

He emphasized that the financial gap created by the prohibition is substantial, revealing that alcohol brands have the capacity to inject far more money into Ghanaian sports than some existing major sponsors.

“The level of funding we are missing out on is unbelievable,” he added. “These companies can outspend several of our current sponsors that’s the scale we’re talking about.”

Maraby also urged the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to modernize its regulatory framework, suggesting that Ghana can learn from established models abroad rather than starting from scratch.

“Across Europe, you can see how these partnerships are structured responsibly,” he noted. “There is no need to reinvent the wheel we can adapt systems that are already working.”

His comments are likely to reignite debate around the balance between public health concerns and commercial growth in Ghana’s sports sector, especially at a time when clubs and associations continue to search for sustainable funding sources.