Community watchdog urges Ghana to ban celebrity sports betting endorsements
The call comes amid rapid growth in Ghana’s sports betting sector, now valued at more than $900m this year.
Ghana.- The Institute of Community Sustainability (ICS) has called on Ghanaian authorities to prohibit celebrities, radio hosts and television presenters from endorsing sports betting and gambling, citing the growing risk to young people who look to these personalities for guidance.
In a statement released on November 25, ICS Executive Director Eric Jerry Aidoo explained how such promotions fill prime-time slots on radio and TV, as well as social media feeds, luring viewers with promises of quick wins.
He wrote: “It is deeply troubling that radio and television stations are dedicating prime airtime to content that subtly or overtly encourages Ghanaian youth to engage in gambling. Even more concerning is the role of public figures and celebrities who serve as role models, actively promoting sports betting on social media, radio and television platforms.”
Aidoo pointed to Ghana’s limited resources for those affected, noting that the country has no dedicated centres for gambling addiction despite a population of more than 38 million. Only five psychiatric hospitals serve the nation, and none offer specialised treatment for gambling-related issues.
He compared the issue to the ongoing challenges with illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, arguing that unchecked betting could hinder national progress just as severely.
He stated: “The threat posed by unchecked gambling could be far more damaging than the galamsey crisis the nation is still struggling to address. No country can truly develop while allowing its youth to be led into addiction and financial instability under the guise of opportunity and entertainment.”
The call comes amid rapid growth in Ghana’s sports betting sector, now valued at more than $900m this year. A May 2025 initiative by the Gaming Commission of Ghana, in partnership with the Mental Health Authority, revealed that nearly 70 per cent of young people participate in some form of gambling, often starting for entertainment or to cover daily needs.
ICS directed its appeal to the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Gaming Commission and Parliament, requesting immediate legislative steps to enforce the ban.
This is not the first time such concerns have surfaced. In 2020, the Gaming Commission restricted betting firms from using celebrities as brand ambassadors, targeting figures like actress Nadia Buari, singer Wendy Shay and rapper Shatta Wale. That policy appears to have lapsed, as seen in recent instances like former footballer Asamoah Gyan hosting a Betway analysis show that weaves in betting prompts.
