Ghanaians’ opinions on sports betting have recently frequently been divided, with some highlighting its negative effects on the youth.
Ghanaian youth who partake in sports betting were vocal in their criticism of the new tax on social media.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong shared his two cents on the controversial 10% tax imposed all betting and lottery wins which commences this August.
Sharing his opinion, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central said he supports the 10% tax government has instituted on all bet and lottery wins. According to him, the 10% tax should have been even more.
“Betting is not anything good for your future. That is why it should be punitive to discourage young men and women coming up take their destinies into their own hands instead of spending their time on games and all those things.”
Hon. Kennedy Agyapong added that whatever money a person is making is temporary and people who engage themselves in betting are not going to get anything out of it.
The MP for Assin Central suggested that government should create more jobs so that the youth can rather get themselves busy working than depending on betting and lottery for survival.
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Relatively, the NDC has given notice that it will protest the NPP administration’s ten percent tax on winning bets.
The party’s youth wing claims that it is an oppressive taxation measure that unfairly affects the nation’s youth and the larger gambling industry.
George Opare Addo, the NDC’s national youth organizer, expressed the party’s displeasure with the tax in a press release, saying, “The introduction of the 10% betting tax, part of the government’s efforts to raise revenue, has been met with criticism and concern.”
The NDC youth claim that young Ghanaians who gamble for fun and, in some cases, a living are disproportionately impacted by this tax.
Due to the new betting tax, gamblers will be required to pay the government 10% of any winnings in the form of tax.
