Former Finance Minister Mohammed Amin Adam has refuted claims that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government implemented the controversial betting tax during its tenure.
Speaking at a Minority press conference following the 2025 Budget presentation, Dr. Amin Adam insisted that the tax, though introduced under the previous administration, was never enforced.
His comments come after Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced the abolition of several taxes, including the betting tax and the E-Levy.
“Betting tax that they said they have abolished, we never collected Betting Tax. So to come and tell Ghanaians that you have abolished something that you have not implemented is to deceive the people of Ghana,” he stated.
The betting tax, which imposed a 10% withholding tax on sports betting and lottery winnings, sparked widespread criticism from industry players and the public. However, Dr. Amin Adam emphasized that his administration did not enforce the policy before leaving office.
Stakeholders have resorted to social arguments debunking claims of the Former Finance Minister. Many referenced controversy surrounding the betting tax dating back to the 2024 general elections when then-presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia reaffirmed his commitment to scrapping the tax if elected.
During the NPP’s manifesto launch in Takoradi on August 18, 2024, Dr. Bawumia declared, “We’ll also reduce Withholding Tax for small-scale gold exports to 1% to curb smuggling, and abolish the Betting Tax.” His pledge aligned with public sentiment against the tax, which many saw as an undue financial burden on bettors.
