I’m shocked by NDC’s gaming tax protest – Pius Hadzide

Pius Enam Hadzide, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), has strongly criticized the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for its condemnation of the newly introduced 10% betting tax.

The introduction of the 10% betting tax forms part of the government’s efforts to raise revenue. The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is hoping to rake in some GH¢400 million from the new gaming tax. 

However, this tax initiative has been met with a wave of disapproval and apprehension by the teeming youths in the country.

To this end, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth wing announced its intention to protest against the government over the newly effected 10% betting tax.

But speaking in an interview with Selorm Adonoo, Pius Hadzie stated, “I’m pretty much shocked listening to NDC, with the impression they are creating. If there is a problem with employment, in NDC’s view, young people should resort to betting, as a means of resolving whatever challenges young people are confronted with. I’m scandalised.”

“Let me just place it on record that, it is not just the Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who has issues with betting and what betting can do to the value system of any country, even the Minority Leader, Ato Forson has called on the state to ban all forms of betting”.

The CEO of NYA lambasted the NDC for instigating the youth to fight the government.

“The young people are being prepared for the future and if you want to lead the country, you should be discussing policies and not that there are hardships, young people should resort to betting, a game of luck, a game of chance. And that we are not going to encourage the Ghanaian youth who is hardworking, entrepreneur, by the way, to continue to work hard.”

Pius Hadzide admitted that Ghana, like other developing countries, is also confronted with youth unemployment, but assured that the government is putting in measures to mitigate the issue.

“I do admit that just like other developing countries, there are challenges, youth unemployment, issues of education, issues of health…for the first time in this country, the young people of this country are now getting hope. Today, due to free SHS, hundreds of thousands of young people whose future would have been truncated at the basic level, are now in secondary schools,” the NYA CEO said.