An aspiring flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party, Kennedy Agyapong, has entered the discourse regarding the government of Ghana's implementation of a 10 percent tax on bets and lottery winnings.

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) recently announced its intention to commence the enforcement of a 10% withholding tax on all gross gaming winnings, starting from August 15, 2023.

The Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has expressed his strong opinion on the matter, asserting his wholehearted support for the Ghana Revenue Authority's decision. He even went so far as to suggest that the tax rate should have been higher, considering his belief that betting holds unfavorable implications for the future.

Agyapong argued that even in the United States, taxes are levied on windfall gains, which further underscores the appropriateness and commendable nature of the decision made by the Ghana Revenue Authority.

“When you win an amount of 1 billion from the US lottery, your take home is 600 million, meaning about 400 million has been taxed because it's free money which s taxable. So, they have been charitable to the youth with the 10 percent”, he told TV3.

“I’m surprised the youth are asking me about betting. I will be honest because betting is not anything good for your future and that is why it should be punitive to discourage young men and women to take their destinies into their own hands instead of spending time on games. Whatever money you make today is temporal but what does one get from betting”, he added.

When elected to office, he promised to create jobs, saying that the youth of Ghana can depend on him and give him the authority to address the country's unemployment problem. He also said that the youth cannot be held responsible for the problem.

Kennedy Agyapong joins Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as the second lawmaker to defend the choice to tax winnings from gambling and lotteries.