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Youth gambling a ticking time bomb – Pius Hadzide defends 10% betting tax
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The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Pius Enam Hadzide, says the authority is excited about the 10% tax on bet and lottery winnings introduced by the government, as it would disincentivize gambling, especially by the youth.
He told Bernard Avle in an interview on The Point of View on Citi TV on Monday that the tax was necessary to deter the youth from gambling because it was dangerous for any country to have its youth fixated on gambling.
“We have been concerned about the increasing incidences of gambling that is affecting even the education of children. Our assessment is that when you go to many of these betting sites, you see young people in uniforms betting. We have developed the culture that the Ghanaian is known as one who is hardworking, one who is committed to decent work and honest work. Those are our values. This idea of young people attempting to get rich quick is a dangerous path to chart for any country in the long term.”
“So we have always advocated that the government should take steps to discourage gambling. We were looking at both legislative and physical measures, such as tax measures, to discourage and disincentivize people from indulging in excessive betting, especially now that our own research has indicated that the vast majority of the youth in our country are drifting into that area. In our view, it is a ticking time bomb. So we applaud the government because we have brought up this matter before past and present officers of state, and we are excited that the government is finally listening to us and implementing measures to disincentivize gambling.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Hadzide earlier lashed out at the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for criticizing the 10% betting tax.
The introduction of the 10% betting tax, part of the government’s efforts to raise revenue, has been met with criticism and concern.
The NDC youth wing, in a statement signed by the National Youth Organizer, George Opare Addo, announced a series of actions to force the government to withdraw the 10% betting tax.
The decision comes in response to what the party perceives as a burdensome taxation policy that unfairly impacts the country’s youth and the broader betting industry.
Speaking on Eyewitness News with Selorm Adonoo, Pius Hadzide stated, “I am pretty much scandalized listening to the NDC, with the impression they are creating. If there is a problem with employment, in the NDC’s view, young people should resort to betting as a means of resolving whatever challenges young people are confronted with. I am scandalized.”
“Let me just place on record that it is not just the Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who has issues with betting and what betting can do to the value system of any country. Even the Minority Leader, Ato Forson, has called on the state to ban all forms of betting.”
The CEO of the NYA lambasted the NDC for instigating the youth to fight the government.
Credit:Citinewsroom.com
The La Traditional Council says all redevelopment plans by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) for the demolished La Pleasure Beach Resort have been put on hold.
The decision follows a high-level stakeholder meeting involving the La Traditional Council, SSNIT and the National Security.
Speaking after the meeting, La Shikitele Nii Adjei Koofeh IV said the Council was unhappy with the manner in which the demolition exercise was carried out without prior consultation with the traditional authorities.
He explained that the La Traditional Council, as the landowners and primary stakeholders, should have been informed before the exercise.
According to him, National Security officials explained that not every operation or exercise requires prior disclosure, but the Council maintained that it should at least have been alerted because of its interest in the land.
Nii Adjei Koofeh IV criticised SSNIT over claims that it had been engaging the traditional authorities on the redevelopment of the area.
He said SSNIT had published information suggesting that it would continue engaging the Council, which implied that consultations had already begun.
He maintained that this was not the case and said the Council raised the matter during the meeting.
He said SSNIT subsequently apologised, while National Security also apologised for failing to engage the traditional authorities before the demolition exercise.
On the way forward, Nii Adjei Koofeh IV said the redevelopment has been suspended to allow for proper consultations and the observance of due process.
He said a committee will be formed to examine the issues surrounding the demolition and consider SSNIT’s redevelopment plans with the aim of reaching an agreement that satisfies all stakeholders.
The La Traditional Council, he added, wants the interests of the La people to be protected in any future arrangement.
He stressed that whatever belongs to La must remain beneficial to the people of La, while the interests of La indigenes working at the facility must also be safeguarded.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Tema Regional Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly posing as a soldier and extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public at Ashaiman.
The suspect, identified as Bright Atsu Kudiabor, was arrested by the Ashaiman Police on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at about 7:00 a.m.
According to the Police, he was arrested at an area known as “I Shall Return”, where he was allegedly parading himself as a soldier and demanding money from people.
The Police said Kudiabor, who is an ex-convict, was initially arrested by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service in Ashaiman with assistance from other members of the public.
A search conducted on him after he was handed over to the Police reportedly led to the recovery of a set of military camouflage uniform.
The suspect is currently in Police custody and assisting with investigations.
The Tema Regional Police Command said he would be processed for court after investigations are completed.
The Police urged the public to remain vigilant and report anyone who falsely presents themselves as a soldier or a member of another security agency to deceive or extort money from the public.
By: Jacob Aggrey
