University in Ghana bans gambling activities on campus

Gambling and sports betting are quite a serious issue in the African country of Ghana. The government is having a hard time controlling the industry and retaining it within manageable levels.

Underage gambling was already an issue, but the biggest problem the country is facing is the increasing popularity of sports betting and games of chance among the country’s young adults.

A local university steps up

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has finally introduced a rule that will prohibit any kind of sports betting, gambling or games of chance activities on campus in order to preserve the students’ well-being both financially and psychologically.

Universities were quickly becoming hubs for big-money gambling activities such as sports betting and prediction wagering among students that have barely reached the legal gambling age of 18 in the country.

Most students would wager on football game outcomes that were taking place in England or various other leagues. In most cases, the students would gamble money that was designated to their studies, and therefore end up in massive debt or are forced to drop out and face life-long unemployment issues.

Does Ghana promote gambling?

There are no clear indications of whether or not the Government has a strong stance against the gambling issues of the country, but there are some nationalized lotteries that are state-commissioned and advertise to the local population.

Despite this constant presence of gambling operations in the country, people like pastors, mullahs and parents are raising their voices to let the government hear about their concerns and problems with the gambling youth.

Although there is already regulation about the participation in games of chance in Ghana, it doesn’t really do much as there are dozens of illegal gambling locations where people under 18 are allowed to spend their money.

With already existing unemployment issues in the country, it’s hard to change the youth’s mindset on the “get rich quick” methods, and that’s why banning it is the only solution for places like universities.

Psychological issues

The KNUST understood that there was much more damage from gambling other than monetary. Considering the data provided by Norwegian gambling news portal, the psychology of the students would change completely due to their tendencies of pursuing uncertain financial lives rather than focusing on studies and using their existing finances on education.

Many are hoping that KNUST’s approach to the gambling issue will also spill over in neighboring countries as they are also facing serious issues in terms of problem gamblers in the younger generation.

Potential issues

There have been numerous issues with gambling promotion in Ghana. It was reported that some religious figures in the country would sell services of “blessing one’s odds of winning”. This quickly became a horrible habit and would indoctrinate young people even when they approached these religious figures for guidance.

There were the same issues when the country was teeming with “Sakawa”, which was a lifestyle of online scammers in the past, where they’d defraud people from the UK or the US from their funds, it seems it’s spilling over in the gambling industry as well.

Nevertheless, at least the first step has been taken by a popular university, and will hopefully affect as many young people as possible.

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