Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has acknowledged that although betting may not be an ideal occupation, economic hardship has pushed many young Ghanaians into it as a means of survival.

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Speaking on JoyNews on Wednesday, March 12, during discussions on the 2025 budget, Kwakye Ofosu defended the government's decision to scrap taxes on betting winnings. He argued that taxing bettors' earnings in the current economic climate would only worsen their financial struggles.

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“We find that there were many youth who were driven into that activity because of hardship and the need for them to find something to do to make ends meet,” he stated.

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“It is not the most desirable of occupations, or if you like hobbies, but at the moment, many people are finding solace there.”

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He explained that, given the lack of sufficient job opportunities, it would be unfair to impose taxes on the little winnings bettors make.

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“Do you create difficulty for them by going to tax their meagre winnings when you have not been able to give them employment and they are struggling to find their feet?” he questioned. “We believe that it is important to remove that particular tax on winnings.”

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However, he made it clear that while bettors will no longer be taxed on their earnings, betting companies will continue to be taxed like any other business.

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“Government is taxing betting companies on their earnings like any other business, so they pay corporate income tax like any other business and are subject to any other taxes charged on businesses,” he assured.

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“But as for the betting companies, there’s no way they are escaping taxation.”

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Kwakye Ofosu added that the removal of the tax on winnings has been met with widespread approval, indicating that it was a burden on many young people.

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“I think that it is something that has been widely received, well received by people, and it shows that it was something that was really suffocating people and we needed to do something about it,” he concluded.

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