By Kwame Bediako
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Ghana’s finance minister-designate, has made a bold declaration to abolish the betting tax, a move he believes will better address the issues surrounding gambling in the country.
During his vetting on Monday, January 13, 2025, he emphasised the untapped potential of Ghana’s tax revenue and made it clear that his first budget will not include the betting tax. “As minister of finance, my first budget, I will abolish the betting tax,” he stated, setting the stage for a significant shift in the government’s approach to gambling regulation.
Ato Forson elaborated on his stance by referencing a past discussion with the former minister for information, Hon. Kojo Opong Nkrumah. He recalled how Nkrumah argued that the betting tax was introduced to protect the youth from the dangers of gambling. Ato Forson, however, countered this perspective, asserting that imposing a tax would not effectively deter individuals from betting. “That will not solve the problem because I’ve read a number of articles, and the article presupposes or suggests that it is destroying our youth,” he explained, highlighting the complexities of addressing gambling addiction through taxation.
In his defence against the betting tax, Ato Forson argued that a more effective solution would be to ban betting outright rather than simply taxing it. He pointed out that the government’s intention to curb gambling through taxation has not yielded the desired results. “Here we are today; I’ve been vindicated. Has the tax solved the problem as intended by the government? Big no,” he declared, reinforcing his belief that the current approach is flawed.
As the nation anticipates the unveiling of Ato Forson’s first budget, many are left wondering how this proposed change will impact the gambling landscape in Ghana. With his commitment to abolishing the betting tax, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson is poised to challenge existing policies and potentially reshape the future of gambling regulation in the country.
