Recent claims circulating on social media suggesting that Ghana's betting tax has been abolished are false. This misleading assertion follows the declaration of John Mahama as President-Elect, despite him not yet being sworn into office.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) began withholding 10% on all gaming platform winnings in August 2023 after the passage of the Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2023 (Act 1094). The tax was introduced as part of measures to increase revenue from the gaming industry.
While both leading presidential candidates, John Mahama and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, promised to remove the betting tax during their campaigns, this promise is yet to be fulfilled. According to Article 174 of the 1992 Constitution, taxes can only be imposed, amended, or abolished through an Act of Parliament. No such communication has been made to Parliament regarding the removal of the betting tax.
The Ghana Revenue Authority has also not issued any statement confirming the abolition of the tax. Thus, claims that President-Elect Mahama has removed the betting tax are baseless and misleading.
Ghanaians are urged to rely on verified information from credible sources to avoid falling prey to false news. The public is also reminded that policy changes, such as the removal of taxes, must follow legal processes and parliamentary approval
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