The Gaming Commission has been urged to intensify its operations and regulations to ensure people, especially the underage do not abuse gaming activities in the country.
The uncontrolled situation was gradually turning the youth and even children into gamblers at the detriment of their education, as they spent huge sums of money and hours at the gaming centres.
The Managing Director of Suka Power Limited, Alhaji Suka Abdul-Wahab Raaj gave the advice in an interview with the Ghanaian Times in Accra on Monday.
He expressed worry as to how the situation had affected productivity at work, promoted addiction due to “get rich quick” and exposing people to fraudulent activities.
Alhaji Raaj recalled a week ago how his accountant took GH¢9,200 being proceeds of his company meant for payment of salaries of workers to engage in betting activities and within three hours spent all the money on gaming.
“A client came to purchase some items from the company and I asked him to send the money to the back, but he failed to deposit the money meant for salaries and engaged in betting which he did not even win wasting the money within three hours,” he added.
Alhaji Raaj said if their activities were not properly regulated the youth who are the future leaders might lose their jobs and become unemployed and even their reputation when some were apprehended for fraud activities.
He urged parents to monitor their children who engage in betting activities.
The managing director advised the public, especially the youth not to be addicted to the gaming activities but take their work seriously.
Section 56 clause 2 of the Gaming Act, states that a person who permits a child to use a gambling machine commits an act and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not more than 250 penalty units (GH¢3,000) or in terms of imprisonment of not more than two months.
It would also be recalled that the Gaming Commission a few months ago clamped down on authorised operations seizing about 400 unsanctioned slot machines as part of moves to sanitise the industry and curb the indiscipline in the country.
BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI