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Children abandon classroom school for game centres
Despite effort by the Gaming Commission to phase out analogue and non-digital slot machines within the gaming landscape in Ghana, it appears the taskforce still has a long way to go.
The ‘clampdown’ initiated on January 1, 2022, formed part of measures by the Comission to upgrade the industry to meet international best practices and protect minors.
However, a number of these children at Alabar in the Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti Region and some parts of Accra continue to while away time at gaming centres at the expense of their education.
These children aged between eight and 12 are often seen in makeshift wooden structures in the early hours of the morning playing their favourite video games while others gamble with slot machines.
Mr. Mohammed Kudus, a game centre owner at Alabar, admitted the centre was opened to adults but the children found their way to the place at odd times.
According to him, some of them lived in the slum with single parents who struggled to cater for their basic needs and that some of the parents also tried to prevent their wards from patronising the venue but “they kept coming.”
He said the centre had strict rules of conduct including sacking children who came there in school uniforms.
Madam Beatrice Baiden, Public Affairs Manager of the Gaming Commission, said the proliferation of slot machines and exposure of children to raffles in obscure places were against the law.
She said the Commission would continue to ensure that persons below 18 years were not exposed to gaming, as stipulated in the Gaming Act, 2006 (Act 721) and appealed to the public to report operators who assembled such machines.
Ms Baiden added that the regulator was committed to the development of an industry that supported gaming as a recreational or leisure activity in a responsible manner.
Speaking to Ms. Daniela Ruedisueli Sodjah, one of the founders and the Executive Director of Chance for Children, a Non-Governmental Organisation, commenting on the issue of street children attributed the challenge to weak social support systems.
She, therefore, called on partners and the government to develop strategies to protect vulnerable children and help secure their future.
By Geoffrey Buta
Madam Sandra Seyram Kpedor, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Anloga in the Volta Region, has emphasised the importance of parental involvement in children’s education, stating that education is free, but parents need to do more to support their children.
She said parents, teachers, and students must be involved in addressing the challenges facing the district’s education sector, particularly the poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.
Madam Kpedor outlined some key roles parents should play to promote their children’s education, including providing a conducive learning environment, monitoring their children’s progress, and supporting teachers.
The DCE highlighted some challenges the district faced such as inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of teachers, which have also contributed to the poor BECE results and called on well-to-do parent to help solve the situation through and other supports.
To address the issues, she also announced that plans have been taken to utilise the district’s common fund to implement educational projects, such as constructing school blocks and teachers’ bungalows at Sodzi community, and 2-unit classroom blocks each at Akplorwutorkor and Tegbi-Afedome respectively, among others.
Madam Kpedor also noted that her office had earlier notified the Ministry of Education to deploy more teachers to the area to improve teaching and learning, and encouraged students to work hard and strive for excellence, and work beyond their limit to succeed.
“To my wonderful and beautiful girls, you have to know it clear that women and girls have equal opportunities to compete with men for greater achievements,” she indicated.
The DCE cited her own achievement as a testament to the fact that women can excel in leadership positions, alongside Vice President Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and stressed that girls were no longer limited to domestic roles but can pursue their dreams and become leaders.
Additionally, she mentioned that a meeting was held earlier with assembly members, and other stakeholders to address the district’s educational challenges and improve academic performance.
She promised that the district’s education oversight committee and stakeholders would work together to address the challenges and improve the district’s BECE results and called for parental involvement and support to boost the district’s education sector for children to chase their dreams to become future leaders for the success of the district and the nation.
She urged parents not to leave everything to the government but rather help in the provision of some necessary materials such as textbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, food, and guidance to children for the successes of young learners. –GNA
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The spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the implementation of the NDC government’s No Fee Stress policy, arguing that the programme has failed to deliver on its core promise.
According to him on Starr fm, the policy, which was introduced to ensure stress free payment of fees for level 100 tertiary students, has rather turned into what he described as post stress support.
He explained that students are required to pay their fees first before applying for reimbursement, a situation he believes defeats the purpose of the policy.
He questioned claims by government officials that the policy has been successful and that citizens are happy.
In his view, such claims do not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians. He stressed that while some people may appear satisfied, many others continue to struggle.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye pointed to the situation of trained teachers and nurses who have been picketing for nearly six months, demanding employment.
He noted that government responses suggesting it cannot accommodate all of them contradict claims of economic stability.
He further argued that economic indicators such as a stable currency mean little to people who are unable to secure jobs or access promised support.
He observed that telling an unemployed teacher or a struggling student that the cedi has strengthened does not address their immediate challenges.
On the issue of tertiary education, he maintained that no level 100 student benefited from stress free fees in 2025, despite the policy being announced.
He added that in 2026, students have already reported to school without receiving the promised support.
He insisted that asking students to pay fees first and seek reimbursement later amounts to support after hardship, not stress free education.
According to him, this approach goes against what was promised during the policy announcement.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned why a government that presents the economy as strong is unable to fulfil what he described as simple and clear promises.
He added that there is a fundamental problem with the way the economy is being managed and indicated that he is prepared to explain his position further.
By: Jacob Aggrey
