The National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has said the NDC has not harboured any intentions to tax bet winnings as being speculated by persons he describes as NPP social media activists.
According to him, the NDC prior to the 2020 elections said it was going to tax sports betting to fund the Sports Development Fund like it is done in the United Kingdom.
He explains that, betting companies are hugely taxed in the UK, a practice the NDC would have adopted if elected, and not taxing bet winnings like the Akufo-Addo government has implemented.
A statement he issued to clarify what is being circulated on social media contrary to the NDC’s stance indicated.
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“In response to a question on how the NDC intends to fund the Sports Development Fund we promised in our 2020 manifesto, I indicated in the said interview, that that the NDC will consider imposing a tax on sports betting “as it’s done in the UK”. The question every objective mind ought to ask therefore, is what pertains in the UK relative to taxation on sports betting? The answer is simple! In the UK, bet winnings are not taxed. Rather, bet companies are heavily taxed. See https://www.newbettingsites.co/articles/how-much-tax-do-betting-companies-pay/,” portions of a statement issued Thursday, August 17, 2023, indicated.
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He explains that “the new 10% tax on bet winnings that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government has introduced is the direct opposite of what pertains in the UK and the position I canvassed in 2020. Don’t be misled!”
“For the sake of clarity and emphasis, the NDC is vehemently opposed to the 10% tax that has been imposed by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government on bet winnings” considering the state of the economy without adequate employment for many youth.
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