Trouble Looms Betting Companies Sitting Around Schools -As Education Minister Hints Of Plan To Close Them Down
According to the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, who made the announcement, it is a lawful for the betting companies to establish their betting businesses around around education facilities since the children are not allow to involve in these activities.
Freeman Koryekpor 
Government of Ghana has indicated its commitment and readiness to embark on the nationwide exercise to close down all the betting companies operating businesses around educational institutions, churches mosques and other social facilities in the country.
According to the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, who made the announcement, it is a lawful for the betting companies to establish their betting businesses around around education facilities since the children are not allow to involve in these activities.
Against this backdrop,Dr Adutwum entreated management of the Gaming Commission of Ghana to immediately to put in place security measures intensify to close down betting companies that flout laws and regulations governing their activities.
Sounding warnings, he stressed the need for the those who are dealing in betting businesses to stop their habits of sitting their betting facilities close to the educational institutions to entice children.
He argued that the move would help prevent children from patronising such facilities located close to their institutions, and control the influx of children into such gaming centres contrary to provisions of the Gaming Act 2006 (Act 721) which guides their operations.
Dr. Adutwum sounded the warnings to the betting companies when he visited the headquarters of the Gaming Commission of Ghana in Accra on Tuesday.
The meeting was meant to help the two institutions have a candid discussion on issues relating to siting of betting facilities near educational institutions across the country and efforts to address this problem.
The Education Minister lauded the Commission for its role in controlling operators in the space but urged them to be firm in enforcing rules and regulations in relation to their operations to bring some sanity to the gaming space.
He appealed to the Commission to have a critical look at the location of betting centres in the country, especially near schools and see what can be done to halt this practice.
Dr. Adutwum pledged his preparedness to liaise with the Commission in relation to how to prevent school children from storming betting centres, especially during school hours in their own interest.
The Minister appealed to the Commission to consider assisting people with betting addiction to stop the practice.
The Education Minister called on all stakeholders in the country to help protect the youth of the country who are preparing to take over the leadership of the country.
This, he said, could be done by looking at the interest of the nation first and putting in place the right policies and measures meant to help make gains for the nation.
The Games Commissioner, Mr. Peter Mireku, eulogised the Education Minister for the visit and the discussion which would go a long way to get the best for the nation.
He recounted various advocacy and sensitization interventions put in place by the Commission towards sanitising the gaming space in the country.
The Commissioner indicated that although there are rules and regulations guiding the operation of games of chance in the country, the issue of age verification remains a bit of a challenge since some adults open betting accounts for use by minors.
Mr. Mireku indicated that the Commission would continue to liaise with the Education Ministry and other institutions to help educate and sensitise school children on the laws against minors engaging in gaming as well as the impact of gaming on their academic work.
Pursuant to the Gaming Act 2006 (Act 721), betting centres are expected to operate 100 meters away from Schools, churches, mosques and other social facilities.
