George Opare Addo
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has instigated youth protests against the implementation of the 10% tax on bet winnings, vowing to launch a series of mass protests against the taxation.
Parliament recently amended the tax law to allow for the imposition of tax on betting and lotteries, and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has announced plans to impose 10% withholding tax on gross winnings from sports betting and other lotteries beginning on August 15.
As the GRA began tax collection in accordance with the new Tax Act, the NDC Youth Wing issued a statement urging the youth to protest, claiming that the 10% tax on bet winnings was unjust.
“In the face of the unjust TEN (10%) taxation on bet wins, we, the young people of Ghana and the NDC Youth, declare a resolute series of actions to resist this burdensome and insensitive policy,” the statement signed by George Opare Addo, NDC National Youth Organiser, said.
According to him, their unity is unwavering, and that the youth wing of the party was determined to “protect the funds young people secure through betting.”
He stated that the NDC youth would make their views heard through agitations, protests, advocacy, and civic engagements in order for the government to reverse its decision.
“We are asking you as young people to mobilise and join in this struggle,” he intimated.
For him, young people cannot be burdened to compensate for monies allegedly stolen and stashed in bank accounts and homes by New Patriotic Party (NPP) government appointees.
“The arrogance of appointees of the government who have taken the pleasure of stealing public funds, talking down on citizens, and robbing young people of the meager sums they secure through betting in an economy that has impoverished them,” he asserted.
He noted that the NDC youth intended to picket at the Ministry of Finance and occupy government offices across the country.
In addition, they will scale up a nationwide conventional and unconventional lawful agitations as a measure of the resistance, and “instigate young people to confront officials of the government” to demand an end to what he termed as corruption and insensitivity of the government.
By Ernest Kofi Adu