Business
Sammi Awuku backs former Finance Minister
Former National Lotteries Authority Boss Sammi Awuku has backed the former Finance Minister’s claim on Betting Tax
The former Finance Minister, Dr.Amin Adam, after the 2025 budget said the NPP did not implement any betting tax.
Additionally, he noted that for the NDC government to say they have abolished something which did not exist was unconscionable.
The former minister has come under fierce criticism on social media by some Ghanaians who believed the betting tax existed.
In a post backing the former Finance Minister, Mr.Awuku wrote.
Read the full post below;
On the So-Called Abolition of 10% Tax on Lottery Wins….
First off, It is important to clarify that lottery is different from betting and same as its taxes. The National Lottery Authority (NLA) is under the Ministry of Finance, while betting is regulated by the Gaming Commission under the Ministry of the Interior.
This distinction matters, yet it’s often ignored for political convenience.
After listening to today’s budget presentation by the Finance Minister , I couldn’t help but notice a rather misleading claim that the government has abolished the 10% lottery tax on winnings.
But let’s be honest: how do you abolish a tax that was never implemented?
For the record, under the previous NPP administration, we engaged extensively with stakeholders, including the then Finance Minister and Hon. Amin Adam and the GRA after the announcement of the proposed 10% tax on lottery wins and recognized early on that taxing lottery winnings would be problematic.
It would have been difficult to administer, cripple the Lottery sector, unfair to players and ultimately more harmful than beneficial.
That is why the tax was never implemented nor enforced.
So, let’s call it what it is. This isn’t an “abolition” but rather a convenient attempt to score political points.
The truth is, the NPP government had already made the decision not to burden Ghanaians with this lottery tax because we understood its impact.
Hon. Amin Adam won’t be wrong to say the Betting tax was never collected anyway since the Finance Minister Hon. Ato Forson also referred to the 10% on Lottery wins as “Betting Tax”. So if that’s what the Finance Minister refers to as Betting Tax then it was never implemented even though passed in 2023.
Ghanaians deserve honesty, not spin. Policies should be about real impact, not just headlines. Let’s focus on the issues that truly affect livelihoods.
As part of the launch of its newly announced Microfinance Fund in Ghana, Fearless Fund is hosting a pitch competition for women entrepreneurs operating in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. This will offer one standout founder the opportunity to secure GH¢100,000 in growth capital.
The pitch competition forms part of Fearless Fund’s broader expansion into Africa. It reflects the firm’s commitment to creating practical, accessible pathways for women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and build long-term wealth.
The competition is targeted at women-led FMCG businesses, including those involved in trading, production, packaging, distribution, and retail sectors that play a critical role in everyday commerce yet remain significantly underfunded despite their economic importance.
“Women across Africa are building resilient, high-impact businesses, yet they continue to receive only a fraction of the capital needed to grow,” HM Queen Wa Arian Simone, CEO and Founding Partner of Fearless Fund, said in a statement issued in Accra yesterday.
“This pitch competition is about visibility, access, and possibility, ensuring women entrepreneurs have the opportunity to compete, scale, and lead,” she added.
In addition to the competition, the statement said the Fearless Microfinance Fund would provide microfinance loans ranging from GH¢10,000 to GH¢30,000 to women entrepreneurs in Ghana, offering catalytic capital to support business expansion, inventory growth, improved distribution, and market access.
“Alongside its focus on supporting women entrepreneurs, the Fearless Microfinance Fund also presents an opportunity for social-impact-focused investors to participate in inclusive economic growth. Investors can secure a guaranteed 10 per cent annual rate of return through the fund, aligning financial performance with measurable social impact,” the statement added.
According to Fearless Fund, the pitch competition represents more than a single funding opportunity; it is part of a broader strategy to spotlight women entrepreneurs who are ready to scale and to support the next generation of African wealth creators.
The pitch competition will take place as part of the official launch activities for the Fearless Microfinance Fund in Ghana. Women entrepreneurs who are ready to scale are encouraged to apply and participate. Interested participants can explore access to the Fearless Microfinance Fund by visiting the company’s website.
HOW TO APPLY
Women entrepreneurs who are ready to scale are encouraged to apply for the pitch competition and explore access to the Fearless Microfinance Fund by visiting https://www.fearless.fund/africa
For more information on Fearless Fund, the Fearless Microfinance Fund in Ghana, and ongoing updates, visit https://www.fearless.fund/africa or follow Fearless Fund on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
BY TIMES REPORTER
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fearless fund, the world’s first venture capital firm built by women of colour for women of colour, and a global leader in economic inclusion, has announced its official expansion into africa with the launch of the Fearless Microfinance Fund in ghana.
this launch marks a significant step in advancing Fearless Fund’s mission to close the global wealth gap by improving access to capital for under-resourced women entrepreneurs.
the fund is structured to bridge this gap through microfinance loans ranging from GH¢10,000 to GH¢30,000, targeted at underserved women-owned businesses, while systematically measuring social impact across job creation, geographic reach, digital inclusion, and support for first-time borrowers.
“expanding our mission to africa has always been central to closing the global wealth gap,” her majesty queen wa arian simone, chief executive officer and founding partner of Fearless Fund said in a statement issued by the company in accra on friday. “africa represents the world’s most dynamic economic frontier. our presence in ghana is about ensuring women entrepreneurs across the country have access to the capital they need to build, scale, and sustain successful businesses. fearless fund is a beacon of what’s possible when women of colour lead with vision and power,” she said.
ghana represents a critical entry point for Fearless Fund’s african expansion. while the country ranks first globally with 46.4 per cent of businesses owned by women, women-led enterprises continue to earn an average of 34 per cent less profit than male-owned firms due to persistent financial, social, and structural barriers.
globally, Fearless Fund has delivered measurable impact, having raised multiple eight-figure venture capital funds with average cheque sizes ranging from $500,000 to $2 million, secured a historic $240 million debt facility to expand access to capital for under-resourced entrepreneurs, and awarded more than $5 million in non-dilutive grants to women of colour founders/entrepreneurs across the united states and globally.
its get venture ready (GVR) programme has equipped over 1,000 women with investor-readiness training, mentorship, and tools to scale sustainable businesses.
fearless fund is backed by leading global institutions, including bank of america, jpmorgan chase, paypal, costco, and mastercard, and its work has been recognised by major international media outlets such as CNN, Bloomberg, the wall street journal, and Forbes.
“beyond the united states, Fearless Fund has established a growing global footprint, deploying millions of dollars into startups across africa, australia, and canada, awarding grants through ecosystem partners in countries including côte d’ivoire, ghana, and botswana, and educating over 200,000 entrepreneurs through its partnership with Trace Academia Africa,” the statement said.
the launch of the Fearless Microfinance Fund will be supported by a series of engagement and activation initiatives to empower women entrepreneurs and strengthen ghana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“to be the first to receive updates on the Fearless Microfinance Fund in ghana, upcoming initiatives, and opportunities for women entrepreneurs, follow Fearless Fund on instagram, facebook, and linkedin,” the statement said.
By Times Reporter
