Five NDC legislators in Ghana introduce bill to abolish 10% withholding tax on betting winnings

Five Members of Parliament from Ghana’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) have introduced a private members' bill seeking to repeal the betting tax, as reported by Modern Ghana. This proposal, submitted to Parliament’s Clerk, aims to amend the 2023 Income Tax (Amendment) Act Act 2023 (Act 1094), which established a 20% GGR tax and a 10% tax on gaming winnings.

The MPs advocating for this change include Francis-Xavier Sosu, Cassiel Ato Forson, Isaac Adongo, Teddy Safori Addi, and Alhassan Sayibu Suhyini, who argue that the current tax rate burdens players and impacts industry growth.

Earlier this year, Makers and Partners (MAP), a prominent audit firm, urged the government to reevaluate the current tax structure that imposes a 20% Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) tax on casino operators. Nii Addo Mensah, Managing Partner at MAP, emphasized that operators also face a licensing fee of approximately 9% of their revenue, alongside significant operational costs such as rent and staff salaries, which complicate their financial viability.