Ghana: Press focuses on implementation of 10% tax on lotto winnings by GRA, others
APA – Accra (Ghana)
The announcement by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) of the the commencement of the implementation of a 10% withholding tax on the gross winnings from all lotteries, including lotto, betting, gaming, and other games of chance is one of the leading stories in the Ghanaian press on Friday.
The Graphic reports that an a public notice released yesterday, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has informed the general public, particularly lotto patrons and operators, about the commencement of the implementation of a 10% withholding tax on the gross winnings from all lotteries, including lotto, betting, gaming, and other games of chance.
The Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2023 (Act 1094) introduced this Withholding Tax, which has been in effect since its implementation.
However, the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and Private Lotto Operators (PLOS) were granted a six-month extension to prepare and implement the tax. This extension is set to expire at the end of December 2023.
Therefore, the GRA has mandated the NLA and PLOs to commence the implementation of the 10% Withholding Tax on Lotto Gross Winnings from January 1, 2024.
The GRA emphasized that compliance with the tax law is mandatory, and failure to do so is considered an offence under Section 78 of the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915). Sanctions will be applied to operators who do not adhere to the stipulated tax regulations.
Patrons, players, punters, operators, and tax consultants are urged to take note of this directive.
The newspaper says that President Nana Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, inaugurated the Koforidua Sports Stadium, a pivotal moment that marks the launch of the first among 10 multi-purpose sports stadiums.
The ceremony, presided over by President Akufo-Addo, drew notable figures including the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, the CEO of the National Youth Agency (NYA), Pius Enam Hadzide, Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku, and the Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III, alongside other prominent personalities and politicians from the Eastern Region.
Mr. Ussif emphasized the monumental progress made by the government in sports infrastructure development. The Koforidua Sports Stadium serves as a precursor to the commissioning of nine other similar facilities nationwide.
Each stadium will boast a FIFA-standard football pitch, a nine-lane athletic track, and versatile courts for tennis, basketball, handball, and volleyball. Additionally, modern amenities such as a gymnasium, counselling centre, IT hub, entrepreneurship centre, and contemporary restaurant are integral parts of these comprehensive sports complexes.
Highlighting the comprehensive sports infrastructure initiatives implemented in the past seven years under President Akufo-Addo’s visionary leadership, Mr. Ussif commended the renovation of national stadiums, construction of regional sports complexes, and the provision of community-level astro turfs. He particularly highlighted the world-class infrastructure established for hosting and organizing the 13th African Games at Borteyman and the University of Ghana.
“In the history of Ghana, no President has a better record in the provision of sports infrastructure than President Nana Akufo-Addo. The evidence is clear, and the impact on sports development at all levels is undeniable,” remarked Mr. Ussif.
The Graphic also reports that in an exciting wave of Guinness World Record attempts, Chef Failatu Abdul-Razak from Tamale is poised to become the third Ghanaian to undertake a record-breaking challenge within two months. Her mission: to set the world record for the longest cooking marathon.
The current record holder for the longest cooking marathon (individual) is Irish chef Alan Fisher, who achieved an impressive time of 119 hours and 57 minutes, surpassing the previous record held by Nigerian chef Hilda Baci.
Now, Chef Failatu Abdul-Razak is gearing up to embark on this culinary challenge, aiming to surpass Fisher’s record
Ace-Liam: Ghana’s 1-year-old art prodigy aims to break a Guinness World Record
The cook-a-thon is scheduled to kick off on January 1, 2024 and run through January 5th, hosted at the Modern City Hotel in Tamale.
This marks a significant feat as Failatu Abdul-Razak endeavours to showcase her culinary skills and endurance throughout the extended cooking marathon.
Prominent in the Tamale culinary scene, Chef Failatu Abdul-Razak extends an open invitation to the public, urging everyone to come out in large numbers to offer their support and encouragement during this remarkable culinary endeavor.
As the Tamale-based chef takes on the challenge, Ghanaians eagerly anticipate the outcome, following the recent attempts by one-year-old art prodigy Ace-Liam and journalist Afua Asantewaa Owusu Aduonum in their respective Guinness World Record pursuits.
The Ghanaian Times says that a total of 5, 256 Fire outbreaks have between recorded between January to November this year, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has disclosed.
The service also attended to 532 Road Traffic Accidents with a total of 2,557 injuries and 263 deaths recorded.
The figure represent 4.92 per cent decrease as compared to the recorded 5,530 fire outbreaks in the same period in 2022.
The Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Julius Kuunuor said this at the climax of the 60th anniversary, Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols and Thanksgiving service of the GNFS held in Accra on Thursday.
This decline, he attributed to the public fire safety education initiatives conducted nationwide by the Service, which resulted in the protection of properties worth millions of Cedis. Mr Kuunuor said the Service performed Fire Safety Audits and Inspections in 14,157 public and residential premises, aligning with established fire safety standards to guarantee the well-being of occupants.
The CFO emphasised the responsibility of the public in avoiding misuse of emergency services as the service recorded 656,591 prank calls (false alarms) in the year.
GIK/APA
Ghana: Press focuses on implementation of 10% tax on lotto winnings by GRA, others
