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Some gamblers in the Ashanti region have celebrated the removal of taxes linked to betting, which was announced by the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
Some of them view the development as the fulfillment of the campaign promises made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) prior to the 2024 elections, considering it as a positive step taken by the government.
The Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi visited some gambling establishments within the Kumasi metropolis to gauge the reactions of the gamblers. At the Soccerbet centre in Asokore-Mampong, Master Kweku Mensah told the GNA that he felt relieved now that the betting tax had been lifted.
He said he supported the NDC in the previous elections due to the promises made regarding betting taxes. He said the removal of the bet tax would result in a reduction of deductions on betting winnings, while maintaining the true value of winning odds. Another gambler, Mohammad Sani, pointed out that, majority of the youth in Ghana have turned to betting due to unemployment.
He believed that the government’s decision to eliminate the tax on betting was a favourable news for gamblers. In contrast, an elderly woman, Maame Yaa, voiced her opinion that betting was morally wrong and should not be encouraged by the government or anyone else.
She suggested that the betting should either be completely abolished or the tax on it significantly increased to discourage the youth from engaging in such activities. Maame Yaa emphasized that the widespread prevalence of sports betting across the country had led many young Ghanaians to become idle, which she believed was detrimental to the future generations.
Source: GNA
