Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has criticized former President John Mahama‘s manifesto promise to scrap taxes on betting, calling it “unacceptable.”
Former President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to eliminate the betting tax and the Electronic Levy (E-Levy) if he wins the 2024 elections.
At a National Democratic Congress (NDC) Youth Townhall Meeting in Accra, Mahama outlined his plans to address significant economic challenges facing Ghanaians.
“You can also be assured that we will abolish the e-levy, remove the COVID Levy, and scrap the betting tax. I urge you to stand with us, stand for your dreams, and stand for a better Ghana.
“Together, we can build the Ghana we want, where every young Ghanaian can succeed. With these policy proposals, I invite Ghana’s youth to partner with Naana Jane and me in our shared commitment to restoring the nation’s potential for future generations,” he said.
The former MP for the Suame constituency argued that Mahama’s proposal is inappropriate, particularly for a country like Ghana, which he describes as a Christian nation.
According to Mensah Bonsu, betting is biblically unacceptable, and God frowns upon it as it is considered immoral.
He explained that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) decision to impose taxes on betting was a deliberate move aligned with biblical principles.
“I do not support the idea of scrapping taxes on betting as proposed by Mahama. It is inappropriate and unacceptable according to biblical teachings. The NPP’s decision to tax betting winnings was guided by the doctrines of God,” he stated.
In his concluding remarks, Mensah Bonsu mentioned that both he and Mahama are members of the Assemblies of God church.
He expressed his intention to speak to a church elder to influence Mahama to reconsider his proposal.
“Mahama and I attend the same church. We share the same elders, and I will speak to one of them to persuade Mahama to change his mind,” he said.
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