Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), Michael Harry Yamson, has urged young Ghanaians to approach betting as a recreational activity rather than a source of income, following the government’s decision to scrap the controversial betting tax.
“The betting tax was seen as frustrating an industry, and we have removed it to drive that industry and to drive the volume of economic activity in that sector,” Yamson explained.
“That said, the idea is not to increase irresponsible behavior. What we firmly believe is that betting is a leisure activity, betting is not meant to be a livelihood.
“And so we subscribe to the removal of the betting tax, at the same time that we are careful to make it clear that betting is a leisure activity—it is not meant to be something that becomes the livelihood of anybody.”
His comments come in the wake of public concerns that lifting the tax may encourage gambling addiction and reckless betting behavior, particularly among youth. Addressing these fears, Yamson stressed the need for responsible practices within the industry and adherence to existing laws.
“We encourage people to follow the law and that operators follow the law so that young people, at the age of 10 and 11, for instance, are not betting,” he said.
To help enforce these standards and curb underage betting, Yamson revealed that the government is exploring digital solutions in collaboration with tech stakeholders. Among them is the potential use of the Ghana Card as a safeguard in online betting environments.
“We also eventually need to work with those in the technology space to ensure that even when people go online to bet, we can use mechanisms like the Ghana Card to prevent young people from gaining access to betting sites,” he stated.
