The Member of Parliament for Akuapem North and the former Director General of the National Lottery Authority, Sammi Awuku, has rejected the government’s assertion regarding the elimination of the 10% withholding tax on lottery earnings, claiming that this tax was not actually established in the first place.
His response came after Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson declared during the presentation of the 2025 Budget that the government intended to eliminate the tax to alleviate financial strains.
Despite this, Awuku characterized the statement as deceptive and politically driven, contending that it was merely a tactic to gain political advantage.
In a post on Facebook, he highlighted the differences between the lottery and betting industries, pointing out that while the NLA operates under the Ministry of Finance, betting activities are overseen by the Gaming Commission, which is regulated by the Ministry of the Interior.
Awuku elaborated that during the previous administration of the New Patriotic Party, thorough discussions with stakeholders, as well as former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and the Ghana Revenue Authority, resulted in a conclusion against implementing the tax due to worries about its potential detrimental effects on the lottery sector.
“Let’s be straightforward about this. This is not an ‘abolishment’ but a strategic move to gain political leverage. The reality is that the NPP government had already decided against imposing this lottery tax because we recognized its consequences.
“Honorable Amin Adam is correct in stating that the Betting tax was never enforced because Finance Minister Hon. Ato Forson referred to the 10% on lottery winnings as a ‘Betting Tax.’ Therefore, if the Finance Minister categorizes it as Betting Tax, then it was never put into action despite being approved in 2023. Ghanaians deserve transparency, not misleading narratives. Policies should aim at genuine impacts, rather than just creating headlines. We need to concentrate on the matters that genuinely influence people’s lives,” he expressed.
