The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah, has apologised to Ghanaians for the miscommunication caused by the Minority caucus’s claim that they never implemented or collected the betting tax.
The Minority caucus, led by the Minister of Karaga and former Minister of Finance, accused the government of misleading the public following the 2025 budget presentation, where it was stated that the betting tax had been abolished.
Dr. Amin Adam sought to clarify that the Akufo-Addo-led NPP government had never implemented nor collected the tax, questioning how a policy that was never enforced could be abolished.
Reacting to the claim in an interview on Lawson TV, which was sighted by GhanaWeb on X, the lawmaker indicated that the statement made by former Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam resulted from a communication gap.
According to him, the former minister will address the miscommunication in his upcoming engagement with the press to clarify the issue.
“There is an issue, and we will delve into it tomorrow by explaining the position. I don’t speak for him, but I believe there was a communication gap, which I hope he will address in his engagement with the press and handle carefully and reasonably. I apologise to the youth for the miscommunication,” he stated.
Boamah, however, confirmed the existence of a 10% withholding tax on gaming, which many refer to as the betting tax, as well as a tax on winnings.
He believes the former minister was referring to the tax on winnings and was trying to explain that it was never implemented.
However, due to the miscommunication, this explanation was misunderstood.
“… We have betting, casinos, football bets, and all, and I’m sure that is what the youth is referring to. First off, the 10% withholding tax on gaming, which many refer to as the betting tax, exists. The tax on winnings, which [Amin Adams] sought to explain, was never implemented,” he said.
The lawmaker called for a thorough explanation of the taxes to establish a common understanding and eliminate any confusion surrounding the betting tax issue.
“I’ve also listened to the Deputy GRA Boss for Domestic Tax, who also provided an explanation. I believe we all need to reach a common ground and consensus on these two tax policies: the 10% withholding tax on big betting companies and the small deductions on bet winnings from football,” he concluded.
Dr. Amin Adam has since come under intense scrutiny and backlash from the public over his claims.
MAG/MA
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