Minister-designate for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has pledged to prioritize abolishing the controversial betting tax upon assuming office. He argues that the tax has failed to address the concerns it was designed to mitigate, particularly claims about its impact on youth morality.
Speaking during his vetting in parliament on January 13, 2024, Dr. Forson dismissed the betting tax as ineffective and a burden on the public. “That tax [betting] will not solve the problem because I have read several articles suggesting that it is destroying our youth. To introduce a tax, you must consider the elasticities and whether imposing such a tax will prevent individuals from engaging in betting, but it has not achieved that goal,” he stated.
He further assured Ghanaians that the decision to scrap the tax would not jeopardize the country’s fiscal health. “Scrapping the tax doesn’t mean we don’t care about revenue; we do. The betting tax generates less than GH¢50 million per year, and abolishing it will not significantly impact the economy,” he explained.
Dr. Forson emphasized that this measure aligns with the vision of President John Dramani Mahama, who, during his 2024 election campaign, promised to repeal the tax. Dr. Forson reiterated his commitment, declaring, “I insist that this tax must be abolished. As Minister of Finance, I will abolish the betting tax in my first budget.”
