Bettors Commend Mahama’s Promise to Abolish 10% Betting Tax

The Concerned Bettors of Ghana (CBOG) has praised former President and National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, for his steadfast commitment to abolish the 10% tax on betting, should he be elected in the 2024 elections.

This commendation comes after Mr. Mahama reiterated his promise during Mahama Conversation with the Youth the Bukom Boxing Arena to commemorate International Youth Day. Answering question from a concerned youth who stakes Bet , Mahama reassured the youth that his administration would scrap the controversial tax, which has been a source of concern for many young Ghanaians.

CBOG, which has been vocal in its opposition to the tax, welcomed Mahama’s pledge as a step in the right direction.
The group argued that the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) decision to implement the 10% tax on betting, gaming, and lottery winnings, which took effect on August 15, 2023, was unfair and placed an additional burden on an already struggling population.

In a statement, CBOG emphasized that betting has become a lifeline for many young Ghanaians who are grappling with the lack of employment opportunities. “In an economy where jobs are scarce, betting has become an avenue for survival for millions of young people. Taxing their winnings is a direct attack on their livelihood,” the statement read.

The group further criticized the government’s approach, labeling it as a “lazy” method of revenue generation. According to CBOG, the decision to tax betting earnings reflects a failure to develop sustainable economic policies that would provide genuine opportunities for the youth.

“Taxing the very source of survival for many Ghanaians in this current economic hardship is not only clueless but also heartless,” CBOG stated.