In a candid interview with Angel FM Kumasi, Majority Leader in Parliament, Hon Osei Kyei-Mansah-Bonsu, attributed the deteriorating state of Ghana's football to the proliferation of betting companies in the country.
The seasoned lawmaker expressed concern over the detrimental effects of this trend on the integrity and financial stability of the sport.
"When you look into things affecting our sports, most of them are attributed to some of these bettings," Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu asserted.
He elaborated that many individuals involved in local football are lured into betting as a means of self-enrichment, often sidelining the sport's genuine development.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also highlighted a darker aspect of the issue, stating, "People go into betting to make legitimate money. Others too use it as an avenue to influence the result (of football matches) so that they can influence their betting results. Is that the way we want to administer our sporting results?"
The seasoned legislator didn't stop at mere critique. He suggested that implementing a 10% tax on betting could act as a deterrent to individuals considering entering this sphere, given its lack of productive contribution to the country's economy.
"I don’t believe it helps the productivity of this country. As an individual, I have nothing to do with betting and I won't do anything to support it, so if it has been taxed I think it is the right thing to do. I will not do anything to support it," he argued.
In response to these concerns, the Ghanaian government recently announced a series of tax reforms targeting betting and related industries.
The government's proposal includes a 10% tax on all betting and lottery winnings for domestic participants while betting companies operating within the country will face a 20% tax on their revenue.
The introduction of these taxes is a pivotal step towards addressing the multifaceted issues that have emerged alongside the burgeoning betting industry.