The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has stated that ordinary Ghanaians who were affected by the Betting Tax will be the best to determine whether the policy was indeed implemented by the erstwhile Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government or not.
According to the regional minister, the ordinary Ghanaian on the street holds a contrary view to the claim by the former Minister of Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, who has stated that the policy was never implemented, hence no tax was collected.
“Don’t take their word for the truth; ask the boys on the street, those who are into Sportybet, Superbet, and others,” he told GhanaWeb TV’s George Ayisi in Parliament following the presentation of the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, on Tuesday.
Asked whether the streets hold a contrary view to the former minister’s claim, Dr. Amoakohene responded in the affirmative, stating, “Of course, the streets will be the best judge for this issue.”
The Minister of Finance, during the budget presentation, announced the government’s decision to cancel some taxes, including the Betting Tax.
“We have programmed the following taxes for removal in line with our manifesto promises. Mr. Speaker, we will abolish the 10% tax on winnings from lottery.
“The government will also eliminate the 10% withholding tax on betting, the Emission Levy, and the VAT on motor vehicle insurance policies,” he added.
Additionally, Dr. Forson disclosed plans to scrap the 1.5% withholding tax on processed gold for small-scale miners, a move that is expected to positively impact the country’s mining sector, particularly its smaller operators.
At a press conference to react to the budget statement, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament described the claim of canceling the Betting Tax by the current government as unconscionable, insisting that the tax was never collected under their administration.
“The Betting Tax that they said they have abolished, we never collected. So, to come and tell Ghanaians that you have abolished something that you have not implemented is to deceive the people of Ghana.”
GA/AE
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