MP worried about proliferation of unlicensed gambling

A reverend minister-cum-Member of Parliament for Assin South , Ntim Fordjour, is leading a crusade against people who have taken advantage of the loopholes in the system to establish unlicensed gambling in the country.

He observed that the Gaming Act of 2005 [Act 721] needs some strengthening in a form of amendment to check the proliferation of unlicensed gambling spots across the country Making a statement in Parliament Mr Fordjour said though Ghana between 2011 and 2014 got GHC7 million in revenue through gaming licencing, the damage and negative impact it has on society cannot be quantified in monetary terms .

He said research has proved that 65 per cent of gamblers later depends on other people like friends for survival , adding gambling has tendencies of causing clinical psychological disorder known pathological gambling syndrome.

That syndrome, he said, is a behavioral disorder which is difficult to bring under control, saying “It leads to addiction, depression and in some cases suicide. According to the MP, it gambling also promotes other social vices, divorce, financial crisis and crime such as theft and fraud.

Mr Fordjour has thus called on the Ministry of the Interior, the Gaming Commission, MMDCES and other stakeholders to help from a regulatory task force to check the menace.

Former Deputy Minister of the Interior, James Agalga agreed with Mr Fordjour on the issue of proliferation of unlicensed gambling, adding under his tenure, the Ministry did its best to curb the menace.

He, however, admitted gaming has been one source of revenue generation by the government