Ghanaian youth outraged over 10% tax on bet winnings
A section of Ghanaian youth has expressed displeasure with the government's tax imposition on bets and lottery winnings.
The government of
Ghana amended the Income Tax Act 2023
(No.2), Act 1094, to allow for a 10% withholding tax on all gross gaming
winnings.
The new policy came into being on August 15, 2023, when the Ghana Revenue Authority commenced deducting
the 10% tax from winners.
The GRA indicated that it hopes to gain some GH¢400 million
from the new gaming tax into government revenue.
This new policy has generated mixed reactions among the
Ghanaian populace, while some bemoaned the policy and described the government
as insensitive to the plights of Ghanaians, others say it is a good policy that
will deter most youth from gambling.
Some aggrieved youth took to social media to vent their displeasure over the directive, a user named code micky said, “ 10% on betting tax commence on 15th August + they will soon start taxing trending Twitter money”.
Another young person interviewed by local media, TV3 opined that instead of the 10% tax on betting, the government should rather approve LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
Here are some screenshots of the reactions.
In the same vein, the youth wing of the opposition
National Democratic Congress (NDC) has released a statement announcing a series
of actions to force the government to withdraw the 10% betting tax.
The National Youth Organiser of the NDC, George Opare Addo expressed the party’s dissatisfaction with the tax, stating, “Our determination to protect the funds Young People secure through betting is unyielding. Through agitations, protests, advocacy, and civic engagements, we will ensure our voices are heard and demand that this CORRUPT Akufo-Addo/Bawumia Government rescind its decision.”
Meanwhile, NDC, Member of Parliament for Asawase, Muntaka
Mubarak has supported the move by the government describing betting and lottery
as a sin based on his Islamic religion and noting that bet wins are earning and
hence are liable to taxation.
Also, Member of Parliament for Assin Central and New
Patriotic Party presidential candidate aspirant Kennedy Agyapong said, the 10% tax placed on bets and lottery
winnings should have been more, he opined that the government was even
charitable with the percentage it placed on bets, games and lottery wins. He
indicated that betting is not a profitable venture that will help the future of
the person involved in it.
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