Hot!
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
Hot!
Seek healthcare at facilities where nursing services are available – Ministry of Health
As a result of the ongoing strike action by the Ghana Registered Nurses and
Midwives Association (GRNMA), it has become imperative for the Ministry of
Health to implement additional measures to mitigate any inconvenience that has been caused.
According to the Ministry, in a statement, it has through all appropriate channels, led negotiations to ensure the smooth approval and implementation of the
new Conditions of Service.
Against this backdrop, the statement added that in line with the Ministry’s policy to ensure healthy population for national development, it has become necessary to make provisions to fill the gaps created as a result of the strike.
Consequently, the Ministry has urged the general public to continue seeking healthcare services at various health facilities, including those where nursing services remain available, to ensure their health needs are met.
They Ministry also attached a link of health facilities across the country in the statement.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Check the statement below
Hot!
MTN, Telecel & AT to increase value of data bundles effective Tuesday, July 1, 2025
The Minister for Communication and Digital Innovation, Sam George, has announced an increase in the value of data bundles by all telecommunication networks in the country.
Speaking at a Meet The Press held today, he said the new directive will take effect from July 1, 2025.
According to him, the implementation date of July 1, is to allow the telcos to recalibrate and reconfigure their systems to reflect the agreed-upon value increases.
He said The new directive will ensure that “AirtelTigo Ghana (AT Ghana): A 10% increase in all data bundles currently offered by the network, additionally, the GH₵400 bundle, which currently offers 195GB, will now offer 236GB.”
Touching on Telecel Ghana, he said, “A 10% increase in data bundles currently offered by the network, their GH₵400 bundle, which currently offers 90GB, will offer 250GB, effective from July 1.”
On MTN Ghana, the minister said, there would be “a 15% increase in all data bundles currently offered by the network and I am pleased to announce the restoration of GH₵399 bundle, which currently has been changed to GH₵350 that offers 92.88GB, will hence be reinstated to 214GB for GH₵399.”
Sam George has also urged the operators to invest in the quality of their network to ensure customers are better served.
He charged the regulator National Communication Authority (NCA) to strictly monitor the changes.
The minister expressed appreciation to the CEOs of the various companies for close collaboration over the last four months.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
