Scrapping of betting tax a political win, but job creation is key – Prof. Alidu Seidu

The Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana, Prof. Alidu Seidu, has described the scrapping of the controversial betting tax in the 2025 budget as a political advantage for the government, at least in the short term.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic on Wednesday, Prof. Seidu noted that while the decision enhances the government’s appeal among the youth, it also raises moral and societal concerns.

"Much as I applaud the government for walking the talk, it also raises the issue of correctional behaviour and religious concerns, which has to be looked at. Because betting itself is addictive, and a lot of people see it as a lazy way of making money, which could eventually affect the moral fibre of the country," he stated.

The political scientist explained that although the betting tax was introduced for moral and revenue-generating reasons, it was widely perceived as exploitative due to the country’s high unemployment rate.

He urged the government to prioritise sustainable job creation for young people, emphasising that “it is important for the government to create lasting job opportunities for the youth to channel their energies into productive ventures.”

Broader tax reforms and governance

Prof. Seidu also weighed in on other taxes, such as the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-levy), which he described as “burdensome” and detrimental to Ghana’s governance framework.

"One interesting thing in the budget is the fact that while abolishing such taxes, the Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, has introduced measures to shore up internal revenue generation in order not to create any funding gap," he observed.

He urged the government to remain focused on job creation, stating that “this is the only solution to all these brouhahas.”

Prof. Seidu further noted that Ghanaian voters have matured politically and can no longer be taken for granted. "Once they disagree with you and you fail to heed their call, they will punish you at the polls," he cautioned.

NDC’s 120-day promise

Commenting on the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s pledge to fulfil its key manifesto promises within 120 days, Prof. Seidu described the pace of implementation as promising.

"Even if they are unable to fulfil all, the way they have started is encouraging. If they cannot accomplish everything within four years, I am sure they will have addressed some of the key promises," he remarked.