There is a growing phenomenon of children indulging in gambling in Ho in the Volta region following the emergence of the ‘Slot coin’ jackpot machines within the regional capital, Starr News has observed.
The machines brought into town by a Chinese company and stationed at popular joints including barbering shops and drinking bars across the Ho municipality, is widely patronized by young teenage boys, who are sometimes seen at the centres during school hours and late evenings.
The situation has become a source of concern for many residents in the regional capital, who fear the children may cultivate other social vices such stealing and alcohol abuse, if they continue with the practice.
Some basic school teachers who spoke to Starr News’ Lambert Atsivor, believe the practise is having a toll on the performance of some of their pupils, as they sometimes abandon classes for their newly found pleasure.
“The jackpot machine is all around the locality and the children are patronizing it. This is even reflecting in their academic work. Some of them are scoring zero in assignments, because they are always at the game centres and do not study at home,” one of the teachers said.
Assembly’s intervention
Meanwhile, in a move to curb the gambling menace among children, the Ho Municipal Assembly has constituted a task force to monitor the activities of bar operators in the area.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Mrs. Fafa Adinyira, told Starr News that the task force will enforce existing legislations including the Gaming Act, 721 of 2006, which prohibits the indulgence of persons below age 18 in gambling.
She said the assembly will close down game centres that continue to entertain children at their premises contrary to the laws.
“This issue came during our last assembly meeting and we put together a task force that will go round to check on this game centres.
"We have the duty to protect our children from this kind of things, so the task force will ensure these gambling centres comply with the laws or risk being closed down,” she stressed.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com
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