Over GH₵80m raised from betting tax — Finance Minister disputes Amin Adam’s claim

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has dismissed the claim by former Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam that the previous administration never implemented the controversial betting tax.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, March 11, shortly after the new government’s first budget, which announced the abolition of taxes, including the e-levy and betting tax, Dr. Amin Adam criticised the move, claiming the tax had never been enforced in the first place.

“The betting tax they claim to have abolished was never collected,” Dr. Amin Adam argued.

“So presenting it as a major policy reversal is simply misleading.”

However, in a swift response, Dr. Ato Forson countered the claim, insisting that the tax was indeed implemented and had generated significant revenue.

“I don’t think he’s on top of the matter,” Dr. Forson said. “My checks indicate that the betting tax was implemented in the second half of 2024. As we speak, over GH₵80 million has already been collected. The facts on the ground clearly contradict his claim.”

The betting tax, introduced under the previous government, imposed a 10% withholding tax on winnings from sports betting and lottery.

Though it sparked widespread public backlash, Dr. Amin Adam maintains that the NPP administration did not operationalise the policy before leaving office.

Interestingly, during the NPP’s manifesto launch in August 2024, then-flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia promised to abolish the betting tax and reduce other levies if elected, an acknowledgement that the tax existed and was in force.

“We’ll reduce the withholding tax on small-scale gold exports to 1% and abolish the betting tax,” Dr. Bawumia said on August 18, 2024, in Takoradi.

Dr. Forson’s rebuttal now raises questions about the accuracy of Dr. Amin Adam’s assertion and reinforces the current administration’s position that it is indeed reversing implemented policies, not imaginary ones.