Sammy Awuku, former National Lottery Authority (NLA) Director-General and Akuapem North MP, has welcomed the government’s move to abolish the betting tax.
Awuku, a consistent critic of the tax, described it as counterproductive and ineffective in various global contexts. “I’m excited that the betting tax is going to be scrapped,” he stated. Mr. Awuku said he opposed the tax even during the NPP administration.
He said, “I’ve been consistent about it, even during the NPP era, and I said it is something that personally has not worked in many of the jurisdictions anytime you have introduced taxes on betting.”
He explained that taxing betting, including lottery, hurt government institutions like the National Lottery Authority (NLA).
“Lottery was part of the betting tax. The National Lottery Authority, for instance, is owned by the government, and apart from the things that they do, at the end of the day, they must also contribute to the national kitty,” he said.
Awuku warned the tax inadvertently boosted illegal betting operators by making them more appealing to bettors. He also criticized inconsistencies in the NDC government’s stance, citing remarks from the Finance Minister-designate about banning betting entirely.
“If you play with the government, you attract a 10% tax on what you win. But if you play with the illegals, you get your full money. So, I told them that, for me, it was counterproductive.”
“The difficulty with the NDC position is that earlier the Finance Minister-designate, in time past, had said that it should be banned—not just the tax being scrapped,” he said.
Awuku urged for more consistent policies to ensure fairness and support for government-owned betting institutions.
