Sports Broadcast Journalist and writer, Fentuo Tahiru, has opposed the decision of flagbearers of both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) to scrap the 10% betting tax when elected to office.
The Ghana Revenue Authority announced a 10% tax on all lottery and sports betting winnings on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. The 10% betting tax was scheduled to go take effect from August 15.
This move was part of government’s efforts to widen the tax net and increase revenue generated domestically. The introduction of the 10% tax on betting winnings was met with opposition from Ghanaians.
Now, going into the December 7, 2024 general elections, Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama have both promised to remove the 10% betting.
Reacting to these promises, Fentuo Tahiru argues it is not the best way to go.
According to him, Ghana needs a dependable revenue stream for sports development. He insists without that, “We will keep going in circles.”
“Second, we need a dependable revenue stream and my suggestion will be the NDC and the NPP have both promised to scrap the betting tax when they come to power. I think that should not be done. Whoever is advising them I think has advised them wrongly. I think what we should be doing is to still take that tax but repurpose it, maybe 50 percent or all of it into setting up a sports fund which will then go into the development of sports, purposefully,” he said.
The broadcaster also suggested the active involvement of competent and technical people in running the country’s sports, “not just appointed people.”
Ghana’s sports infrastructure is now under heavy scrutiny as the country now does not have any pitches up to CAF code. The nation’s male national team now has to resort to playing home games in alternative stadiums outside of the country, a disgrace to Ghana.
“Don’t scrap betting tax. Repurpose part or all of it to set up a sports fund.”
– @Fentuo_ shares his solutions to having a dependable revenue stream for sports. #JoySMS pic.twitter.com/MO16JmNBUd
— Joy 99.7 FM (@Joy997FM) September 19, 2024
