We never collected Betting Tax – Dr.Amin Adam, former Finance Minister

Former Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for  Karaga, Dr.Amin Adam has shockingly revealed that the erstwhile New Patriotic Party Administration did not collect any betting tax.

It would be recalled that the betting tax, introduced under the previous government, imposed a 10% withholding tax on winnings from sports betting and lottery.

However, during a press briefing by the minority after the 2025 budget presentation, former Finance Minister Dr.Amin Adam said it was unconscienable for the government to say it has abolished the betting tax.

He said, “Ladies and gentlemen, the betting tax that they said they have abolished, we never collected betting tax.”

“we never implemented the betting tax. So to come and tell Ghanaians you have abolished something that was not implemented is to deceive the people of Ghana,” the former Finance Minister shockingly revealed.

When the tax was introduced, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) outlined that this withholding tax will be automatically deducted at the point of payout for all betting, games, and lottery wins.

The tax was expected to enhance domestic tax revenue mobilization, considering Ghana’s comparatively low tax-to-GDP ratio within the sub-region.

However, the new tax initiative , since its inception, has faced criticism from the younger generation in Ghana, who argue that betting and lottery winnings often serve as alternative income sources for the unemployed.