The Jirapa MP, Cletus Seidu Dapilah, says government is being hypocritical for placing a tax component on earnings from betting.

Describing the phenomenon "as a sin and a lazy approach to making money", he said there is no way government be trying to make a profit from same.

According to him, this should not be happening especially when government has failed in creating jobs for the youth.

"If we think that this is unreligious, this shouldn't be practised by our young people, why do we go to tax it? It means we have legitimised it. You cannot say that something is a sin and yet you would want to take money from it," he said on the AM show.

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Tuesday, August 15, commenced the implementation of a 10% withholding tax on all gross gaming winnings.

According to the GRA, the withholding tax will be charged on profits accrued after each win and the existing 15% Value Added Tax (VAT) rate on each stake will no longer be charged.

The GRA said that the new policy is in line with an amendment to the Income Tax Act 2023 (No.2), Act 1094.

Speaking at a media engagement session, the Commissioner for the Domestic Tax Revenue Division at the GRA, Edward Gyamerah, said that gaming companies that fail to comply with the new policy will face sanctions, including the withdrawal of their licenses.

The youth who are mostly involved in the act, have since been expressing their outrage following the directive, with some decrying a lack of employment opportunities in the country.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are promising to take off the tax component should they assume power.

Also, according to a statement by the Youth Wing of the opposition party, it will hit the street to protest against the directive if the decision is not reversed.

“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 the burdensome and insensitive policy.”

“Our unity is unwavering and our determination to protect the funds of the young people secured through betting is unyielding.”

“Through agitations, protects, agitations and advocacy and civic engagements, we will ensure our voices are heard and demand that this corrupt Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government rescind its decision,” excerpts of the release said.