Ghanaian actor and politician John Dumelo has spoken out against the government’s plan to impose a 10% tax on winnings from lotteries, games of chance, and sports betting.
The government’s goal is to raise domestic tax revenues and broaden the tax base, both of which the new policy will help accomplish.
Dumelo expressed his disapproval of the government’s decision in a tweet, saying that young people who have found employment in the gambling industry through sports betting and other avenues would rebel if the tax policy were to be implemented.
He suggested that the government should invest in young people by giving them opportunities for jobs and other career opportunities rather than taxing their profits.
He said “Create jobs; you won’t create. The youth have created their own jobs too; ahhh, you want to tax their winnings…continue. That day will come when the youth will rise against you. It will be too late.”
Some Ghanaians are in support of Dumelo’s approach, while others are criticising him for promoting gambling and opposing a valid tax policy.
John Dumelo did not suddenly enter Ghana’s political scene. In the 2020 elections, he ran as an NDC candidate but was defeated by a New Patriotic Party candidate. (NPP).
Meanwhile, candidates for the Ayawaso West Wuogon parliamentary primaries, of which Dumelo is part of, will not be vetted by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) until further notice.
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