Ghana Gets Rid of Betting Tax as President Mahama Signs New Law

Ghana has scrapped the 10% tax on betting, gaming, and lottery winnings after President John Dramani Mahama gave the green light to a new law on April 2, 2025. This action makes good on a main promise the National Democratic Congress (NDC) made to voters before the 2024 elections.

Ghana Finance Minister Pushes Broader Tax Cuts

The betting tax repeal comes after lawmakers gave it the green light on March 26, 2025, following long talks. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who heads the country’s finances, said getting rid of the betting tax is just one part of a bigger plan to scrap withholding taxes on all types of lottery and gaming, reported local media outlet GhanaWeb. Forson pointed out that this move goes further than what was first promised in the campaign. It does not just do away with the betting tax, but it also gets rid of charges on other gaming activities.

The government brought in a betting tax in August 2023, but it did not go down well with sports fans and people in the industry. Those against it said it put too much strain on people’s wallets, making them less likely to bet. On the flip side, those backing the tax argued it would help stop young folks from getting hooked on gambling and bring in extra cash for the country to grow. This tax came about under the government leadership that was in charge before the current one.

Government Removes Multiple Taxes to Ease Financial Burden on Ghanaians

Along with getting rid of the betting tax, President Mahama gave the green light to a bunch of new laws to roll back other taxes people did not like. These include scrapping the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) and the Emissions Tax. The E-Levy, which started in 2022, put a 1% charge on electronic transactions like mobile money transfers and online payments, making a lot of people unhappy. Getting rid of these taxes fits with what the NDC government wants to do – take some financial pressure off citizens and help the economy grow.

The government’s decision to get rid of these taxes comes after talking about it for months. Dr. Forson shared this news when he presented the 2025 budget in March. The finance minister stressed that these changes aim to give people more money to spend, help businesses grow, and make the economy more stable overall.Getting rid of the betting tax shows a big change in how Ghana handles its money. This move shows the government is keeping its campaign promises. By doing this, they hope to create better conditions for businesses and people, while also dealing with concerns about too much taxation.