Former Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has reacted to John Dramani Mahama’s promise to cancel the 10 percent tax on sports betting.
Former president, John Dramani Mahama while interacting with Ghanaian youths at the UPSA auditorium said he would cancel the 10 percent tax placed on sports betting winnings by the Akufo-Addo administration.
However, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the regulation was put in place to reduce betting amongst the youths so cancelling the tax will rather promote the act.
“As a Christian, I believe everyone should earn from their work. The Bible is against betting, that’s my understanding. The government imposed a betting tax to discourage people from focusing on betting, similar to taxes on alcoholic drinks and cigarettes to limit their usage.
“If you remove the tax from alcoholic beverages, you are encouraging people to drink more. Is it Mahama’s intention to turn the country into a betting hub by removing the tax? Betting is not a profession, so if you are a Christian and you intend to do this, it’s questionable,” the MP said on an Accra-based radio station and shared on EDHUB on X.
On Tuesday, August 8, 2023, the Ghana Revenue Authority announced a 10% tax on all lottery and sports betting winnings.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) indicated that this withholding tax will be automatically deducted at the point of payout for all betting, games, and lottery wins.
