LR John Mahama and Franklin Cudjoe

IMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe has expressed concerns over National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader John Dramani Mahama’s promise to abolish betting tax if he wins the 2024 general elections.

Cudjoe believes that while lowering the tax rate would make sense given its current high level, eliminating it entirely could cause economic problems.

He stressed that government activity depends on tax revenues and eliminating this source of revenue would not be beneficial.

He also pointed out that the high tax rate is causing resentment among young people who depend on betting for their income.

“Despite the economic challenges, I don’t agree that we should completely abolish taxes on betting winnings. He can reduce the tax instead. Some of the guys complained and I understood them because they argued, ‘You as a government are not creating jobs for me, the little joy I get from betting is being taken away by taxes.’ Of course we don’t want that, but I think there has to be a middle ground,” he said, according to myjoyonline.com.

Cudjoe also said Mahama should have proposed a change in the tax rate instead of abolishing it altogether.

“John Mahama should have said, ‘Look, taxes have to be introduced to generate revenue for the country; however, the tax rate will be adjusted.’ I would have agreed with that, but abolishing taxes is more political talk,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mahama’s campaign promise to abolish betting tax has been well received by the youth, who are excited by the idea of ​​earning their income without deductions.

SB/MA