Joe Jackson, CEO of Dalex Finance, has endorsed taxing betting activities as a way to protect Ghana’s youth from the financial and social dangers of addiction.
Speaking on ABC In the Morning, Jackson described betting as an addiction that diverts limited resources from the youth into unproductive activities, calling for higher taxes to curb its appeal.
“I very personally detest betting, and I think betting is a way of diverting the little income the youth have into different pockets. I absolutely have no problem taxing betting and even taxing it more,” Jackson said.
“Because betting is an addiction that is destroying the youth of the country. So anything that makes it less attractive is good.”
Speaking later on ABC News GH on December 16, Jackson urged the incoming government to adopt a multi-pronged approach to tackle fiscal issues, beginning with rooting out corruption.
“We have to attack corruption. In fact, one of the things we must do is to recover all the monies that have been looted or supposedly looted,” he emphasized.
Jackson also highlighted inefficiencies in Ghana’s tax administration system, proposing a centralized database to streamline processes.
“You go to the port, you bring in ten containers, you pay some tax there, and then come and pay income tax. At the moment, there is no direct link. So you could be clearing one thing at one side and the other thing at the other side. When we bring them together, that will help improve our tax collection,” he explained.
He advocated linking all tax databases, including VAT, port duties, and income tax, to enhance compliance and efficiency.
“We should link all the tax databases together. Make a huge effort to collect direct taxes,” Jackson urged the incoming administration.
Jackson’s remarks come amid President-elect John Mahama’s pledge to remove certain taxes, including the E-levy, COVID levy, and the 10% tax on betting winnings, as part of his first 120-day economic agenda.
While aimed at easing hardships and reducing business costs, critics question the feasibility of these cuts given Ghana’s revenue challenges.
In 2023, betting taxes alone brought in GH₵15 million in one month, while Ghana’s tax-to-GDP ratio of 13.8% remains below the government’s target of 18-20% by 2027.
The removal of such taxes could exacerbate fiscal deficits unless offset by measures like those proposed by Jackson.
As the government weighs tax reforms, Joe Jackson’s calls for fiscal discipline, aggressive revenue recovery, and an efficient tax system underline the need for strategic action to balance revenue generation with economic growth.
