Media personality and musician Blakk Rasta has criticised NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama and NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for their promise to abolish the 10% betting tax if they come to power.

He argues that the betting tax, which aims to discourage the youth from gambling and encourage hard work, should not be removed as it would be detrimental to the nation.

Blakk Rasta believes that eliminating the betting tax will lead to an increase in gambling, with political parties promising its removal to gain more votes from the youth.

"The two biggest political parties, NPP and NDC, are both promising to create more gamblers if they win power. Bawumia says, 'When I win, I will cancel all the taxes on betting so you can continue gambling, become addicted, and end up in jail.'

"Mahama says, 'When you vote me into power, because the economy is tough, I will remove all the taxes on your betting so you can bet more. We will become a nation of gamblers.' Are these parties thinking about Ghana or just about winning votes? They don't care. They are making people addicted to nonsense just to win elections," he said during the UrbanBlend show on Accra-based 3FM.

This follows promises from both Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and John Dramani Mahama to remove the 10% betting tax deduction if they win the 2024 general elections.

The news, has however, been welcomed by many youths who believe it will help them earn their rightful incomes from betting.

SB/MA