Dr. Amin Adam claimed that the betting tax was never implemented by the NPP
The Ghana Association of Sports Betting Operations (GASBO) has refuted claims by former Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam that the betting tax was never implemented.
Dr. Kobby Boateng, President of GASBO, revealed that the association paid approximately GH¢58 million in betting taxes in 2023, with contributions nearly tripling to GH¢158 million in 2024.
Speaking on Kessben TV, Dr. Boateng clarified that the Gaming Commission collected the taxes, contrary to the former minister’s assertions.
He said, “In 2023, we paid approximately GH¢58 million. The implementation of the tax began in August, which slowed payments. By 2024, our contributions nearly tripled, reaching GH¢158 million.”
Dr. Boateng also noted that the National Lottery Authority (NLA) successfully lobbied for an exemption from the tax, though he declined to elaborate on the reasons.
“The NLA successfully lobbied for an exemption from the tax for reasons I don’t want to discuss. But the betting tax, as implemented by the Gaming Commission, was duly collected,” Dr. Boateng added.
The 10% withholding tax on betting was introduced by the Akufo-Addo-led government to curb gambling rates and generate additional revenue.
However, the move faced significant backlash from Ghanaian bettors, who criticized the government for being insensitive to their concerns.
SA/MA
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