Accra: Red Flag Over Proliferation Of Illegal Betting And Gambling Companies

The Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) is demanding the immediate legislation to regulate the gaming and betting industry in the country.

According to ISSER, the high number of students who abandon school and throng such centres and engage in other vices is worrying and creating a very disturbing pattern.

The Head of Economics Division at ISSER stated that urgent steps must be taken by government to regulate the illegal activities and control the upsurge of such centres in the country.

Addressing a news conference on ISSER’s position on the 2018 Budget in Accra, Dr. Charles Ackah said the booming gaming and betting industry must be regulated to help keep students in schools.

“We expected to hear something about a legislation for gaming and betting and we thought that it is long overdue to control the regulation of the gaming industry in Ghana thus bringing order and stability to this largely unregulated industry.

“We cannot afford the expansion of an industry which remains largely illegal and unregulated with the associated negative social effects in particular on our young and vulnerable in our society.

“We expect government and parliament to bring all forms of betting and gaming activities under a comprehensive, robust and stringent regulatory framework. Most of our young students are always found around this gaming and betting centres propably due to lack of proper supervision at home,” Mr. Ackah said.