Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has confirmed the government’s decision to abolish the 10% withholding tax on betting winnings.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, during the presentation of the 2025 Budget Statement, Dr. Forson declared:
We will abolish the 10% withholding tax on winnings from lottery, otherwise known as the Betting Tax. He stated
The tax was initially introduced by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration, requiring betting winners to pay 10% of their earnings to the government.
However, the levy became a contentious issue, particularly during the 2024 elections, when a significant portion of Ghana’s youth rallied behind President John Mahama. Many voters criticized the tax as exploitative, arguing that it unfairly targeted one of their primary sources of income amid rising unemployment.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) had pledged to abolish the tax, a promise that played a crucial role in mobilizing the youth vote. Its removal is expected to provide economic relief and align with broader efforts to introduce more favorable policies for young Ghanaian.
In addition to scrapping the betting tax, the government has also eliminated the E-Levy, COVID-19 tax, and emission levy.
Despite the anticipated relief for bettors and the general public, the government faces a potential revenue shortfall of GH¢1.2 billion in 2025 as a result of these policy changes.