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Former Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Mr Samuel Awuku has expressed his support for the government's decision to abolish the betting tax.
Awuku, who has consistently criticized the tax, even during the previous administration, described it as a counterproductive policy that has not produced positive outcomes in many regions.
“I’m excited that the betting tax is going to be scrapped. 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 said during an interview with
Daily Guide Network (DGN).
Highlighting his concerns, Awuku elaborated on the counterproductive nature of the tax, especially concerning government-owned 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 explained.
“If the government is taxing itself, then what will happen is that the underground operators that we call the illegal operators will become emboldened."
“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,” he added.
Awuku’s criticism extended beyond the tax policy itself to what he described as inconsistencies within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government. He noted that earlier comments by the Finance Minister-designate had gone beyond scrapping the tax to suggesting that betting and lottery activities should be banned entirely.
“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.
