Sammy Awuku, former Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, has welcomed the government’s decision to abolish the betting tax, calling it a counterproductive measure that failed to deliver positive outcomes in many countries.

Speaking to Daily Guide Network (DGN), Awuku, a long-time critic of the tax, said he had consistently argued against it, even during the tenure of the previous administration. He emphasised that the introduction of betting taxes often had adverse effects. “I’m excited that the betting tax is going to be scrapped. I’ve been consistent about it, even during the NPP era,” he remarked.

Awuku elaborated on the detrimental impact of the tax, particularly for government-owned institutions like the NLA. He pointed out that the National Lottery Authority, as a state-run entity, was also affected by the tax, which ultimately led to a paradox. “If the government taxes itself, illegal betting operators become more appealing to players,” he explained. “Players can avoid the 10% tax on winnings by turning to underground operators, which undermines the government’s legitimate efforts.”

He further criticised the inconsistency within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, noting that the Finance Minister-designate had previously called not only for the scrapping of the tax but also suggested that betting and lottery activities should be banned altogether.

“The difficulty with the NDC position is that earlier the Finance Minister-designate had said it should be banned—not just the tax being scrapped,” Awuku added.

Source:TheDotNews