The Institute of Community Sustainability (ICS) has issued a strong call for the government to immediately ban celebrities, radio hosts, and TV personalities from promoting betting and gambling across Ghana’s media space. According to the organisation, the growing normalisation of gambling, particularly among the youth, poses a national threat far more dangerous than many policymakers realise.

In a statement signed by Eric Jerry Aidoo, Executive Director of ICS, the organisation described the current media environment as “deeply troubling,” noting that radio and television stations now dedicate prime airtime to content that subtly or directly encourages gambling participation.

ICS expressed particular concern over the involvement of celebrities and public figures who command massive influence on social media and mainstream platforms. The group said these personalities, seen as role models by millions of young Ghanaians, are driving vulnerable youth into addictive behaviours under the guise of entertainment and economic opportunity.

Gambling Threat Worse Than Galamsey?

The organisation warned that the long-term consequences of unchecked gambling may surpass the devastation caused by illegal mining (galamsey), which continues to plague the country.

“No country can truly develop while allowing its youth to be led into addiction and financial instability,” the statement stressed, adding that the glamorisation of betting is creating a silent crisis with far-reaching social and economic repercussions.

No Dedicated Gambling Addiction Centres in Ghana

Despite the widespread promotion and commercialisation of gambling, Ghana currently has no dedicated gambling addiction centre. The country’s five psychiatric hospitals also lack specialised services for treating gambling-related mental health problems.

For ICS, this gap represents a dangerous imbalance: aggressive advertising on one hand, and zero support structures on the other.

Call to Action: Ministries and Parliament Must Intervene

ICS is calling on the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Gaming Commission, and the Parliament of Ghana to urgently act by banning celebrities and media figures from gambling-related promotions.

According to the organisation, such a move is necessary to protect Ghana’s youth, safeguard public health, and address a growing crisis before it spirals out of control.

The debate over sports betting in Ghana has intensified in recent years, and ICS’s intervention adds significant pressure on regulators to reconsider the role of influential personalities in driving gambling culture.