Increase Betting Tax to 20 percent – Tax Lawyer tells Finance Minister

A Tax Lawyer, Theophilus Tawiah, has proposed raising Ghana’s betting tax from 10% to 20% to discourage gambling, while economist Professor Stephen Adei recommends an increase to 50%, arguing that betting is a detrimental habit.

These calls come in contrast to President-elect John Dramani Mahama’s campaign promise to scrap several taxes including the betting tax, e-levy, COVID levy, emissions levy and import duties on vehicles and equipment aimed at alleviating the burden on Ghanaians.

In addition, a former GIMPA Rector supported higher “sin taxes” on harmful activities, urging a comprehensive tax review to simplify Ghana’s complex tax system, especially given that only about one million out of 33 million people are income taxpayers.