Hassan Ayariga, the founder and head of the All People’s Congress (APC), has stated his aim to outlaw sports betting if elected president.
Betting, he argues, is for lazy people and should not be encouraged among Ghanaian youth, who he believes should redirect their energies toward better things.
The 51-year-old politician has been running for president of Ghana since 2012 and is preparing to run again in next year’s presidential elections.
When asked about sports betting, Ayariga replied it was for lazy people and that if he became president, he would outlaw it.
Others think that betting is a legal and legitimate means to make money, and hence cannot be considered a harmful behavior when no laws are breached.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) instituted a 10% withholding tax on all betting, games, and lottery winnings in August.
This followed the government’s decision to modify the Tax Act, adding withholding tax on sports betting and lottery earnings.