The Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu has criticised former President John Mahama’s promise to scrap tax on betting when elected President in the 2024 elections.
The NDC flagbearer has as part of his electoral campaign promised to scrap taxes on sports betting in Ghana under his administration.
The former President during a Town Hall meeting at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra acknowledged that sports betting has become a major means of income for Ghanaian youth due to the harsh effects of Ghana’s poor economy especially on the youth.
“Already things are not so good and the only thing that young people are using to survive has been taxed by this government.”
Mr. Mahama explained further that the tax on sports betting will be scrapped and replaced with other potential ventures that will occupy that vacuum.
“The government has agreed with the IMF to introduce certain taxes as part of criteria that makes Ghana eligible for IMF’s loans; so we will find other potential sectors that the taxes can be placed on so that sports betting can be left alone.”
Commenting on this pledge on Angel FM in Kumasi, the former Majority Leader said the proposition is never the best as it is akin to encouraging the youth to be lazy.
“My training as a Christian makes me know that the Bible is against Gambling, so if you want to bet, then the need for taxing it to discourage people just like we do with alcohol and cigarettes…,” he said.
The decision of President Mahama to take away the tax on bets, he added, is akin to encouraging people to engage more in betting.
“I don’t believe in luck, I believe in hard work…,” he told host, Kwame Tanko.
The politician who said he is a member of the Assemblies of God also said he would talk to their General Superintendent to advise John Mahama to desist from doing away with the tax on betting.
