Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has confirmed that the government will be eliminating the 10% betting tax.
During the 2025 budget reading in Parliament on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Ato Forson revealed that the administration would be scrapping the tax, stating, “We will abolish the 10% withholding tax on winnings from lottery, also known as the ‘Betting Tax.’”
The betting tax, which was introduced by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, required individuals to pay a 10% tax on their lottery and betting winnings.
The tax had become a central issue during the 2024 elections, with a significant portion of Ghana’s youth rallying behind President John Mahama.
Many saw the tax as an unjust burden, arguing it disproportionately impacted their primary source of income, especially given the rising unemployment rates.
The NDC’s commitment to abolishing the betting tax played a pivotal role in galvanizing youth support, as voters sought policies that would provide economic relief and fairer treatment in the face of the country’s growing challenges.
