The government wants to build a rehab centre for young people addicted to betting. It’s a step, but it’s not the solution.
As someone who’s spent years working in this space, including organising Ghana’s first-ever responsible sports betting event, “Nkrataasem Sports Betting Event 2024”, I have seen what works. And it’s not waiting until young people crash before helping them. It’s about reaching them before they fall.
Rehab is important, but it’s damage control. The real fix lies in education, prevention, and regulation.
The Betting Boom Is No Accident
Let’s be honest: betting didn’t become a national issue by chance.
It’s been pushed aggressively: billboards, Social media ads, Celebrity endorsements, Flashy wins, and Promises of quick cash. And who’s the target? The youth, Jobless, anxious and hungry for hope.
We have normalised betting so much that most young people no longer see it as risky. Until they are knee-deep in debt or depression. That’s where the problem starts, not in the rehab centre, but in the unchecked hype machine we have allowed to thrive.
What We Have Done and What We Have Learned
At Nkrataasem Sports Betting Community we took a different route. We met bettors where they are which are online, on the streets, in group chats. We created platforms on Telegram, WhatsApp and YouTube where members receive:
- Daily responsible betting tips
- Mental health support after losses
- Real talk about odds, risks, and limits
Thousands have engaged with our content. Media houses like the Adom Cluster of Multimedia Group limited have covered our efforts. And guess what? It works. When you treat young bettors as intelligent people who deserve the truth not just profit margins, they respond.
Here is the Real Question
Why hasn’t the government partnered with grassroots advocates like us?
Why are betting companies still allowed to target minors and unemployed youth with zero accountability?
Where is the national strategy to make responsible betting education mandatory, not optional?
A Call to Action
This isn’t a rant. It’s a call. To the government, regulators, and betting companies: let’s work together. I have built the foundation. I have seen what responsible engagement can do. Now we need to scale it and that takes political will.
Build your rehab centre. But don’t stop there. Rehab treats the consequence. Let’s attack the cause.
Let’s fund education campaigns. Let’s demand transparency from betting companies. Let’s involve people who actually know the betting culture and speak the language of the youth.
Don’t wait until they need help. Let’s reach them before they do.
