Editorial
Prevent youth from excessive gambling
Young people are increasingly becoming hooked to gambling, and once they do, it may be difficult for them to stop since they may view it as a quick method to get money or a way to reduce their anxiety symptoms.
Participating in a game or activi¬ty where you risk money or a valued item in the hopes of winning money is referred to as gambling.
Some young people gamble, through lotteries, betting, card games, casino games, bingo, and other activities, for fun, excitement, or financial gain, but others do it to escape from stress.
The Spectator is concerned about youths who gamble too much. Some claim that gambling helps them become more perceptive, helps them learn skills while playing, and keeps their brains engaged.
However, appealing as it may seem, gambling has a number of drawbacks since it raises the risk of the youth disengaging from friends, family, and school or engaging in risky behaviour that results in psy¬chological and behavioural prob¬lems.
In addition, it may also result in low self-esteem, criminal activity, domestic violence, tension, and even suicidal thoughts.
In light of this, The Spectator backs the acting Amomole chief and head of the Okortsoshishi family in James Town, Accra, who pleaded with the authorities, the clergy, and the chiefs to take drastic action to curtail youths’ excessive gambling and betting.
He claimed that it was normal to see the numerous gaming and gambling establishments packed to the gills with students and idle adolescents.
He warned that it might endan¬ger their future.
Nii Ashittey Tetteh made the appeal recently, during the Homowo festival celebrations by the Okort¬soshishi families from both home and abroad.
He claimed that if the govern¬ment gave these idle young people employable and self-sustaining work, the problem of gambling addiction might be reduced or even eliminat¬ed. He complained that “some use their school fees to gamble.”
Such a family get-together during the Homowo celebrations, according to Nii Ashittey Tetteh, provided an ideal opportunity to educate the youth about the perils of gambling and other vices including stealing, using drugs, prostitution, and other social vices.
The Spectator wants to reaffirm its call to the government, Non-gov¬ernmental organisations (NGOs), philanthropists, and religious author¬ities to monitor youth activity.
We implore young people to take up new hobbies, like sports, to keep them busy and to participate in oth¬er physical activities that will keep them engaged.
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
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