Management Consultant at Nabson Consult Limited, Mohammed Nnabaale Iddrisu, has called for stronger action against sports betting, saying its growing popularity in Zongo communities was weakening household finances, reducing productivity and undermining local economic development.
He said although betting was often presented as a source of income for young people, it had instead contributed to financial hardship, strained family relationships and addiction, with wider consequences for communities and businesses.In a statement on leadership challenges in Zongo communities, Mr Iddrisu argued that the social and economic costs of betting outweighed any financial gains generated by the industry.
Economic impact
He said many young people were spending money intended for food, rent, education and small business activities on betting, leaving households under financial pressure.According to him, repeated losses pushed some people into debt, while others resorted to borrowing, fraud and other unlawful activities to recover their losses.
He added that betting also reduced workplace and academic productivity because many people spent long hours analysing matches and placing wagers instead of focusing on work or studies."Betting takes money away from households and productive businesses. Families lose savings that could have supported education, trading or investment, and that weakens the local economy," he said.
Family support
Mr Iddrisu said strong family structures had historically provided social, emotional and economic support within Zongo communities, but those systems had weakened over time.He explained that parents, elders and other respected members of society once shared responsibility for guiding young people and correcting unacceptable behaviour.He said the decline in that collective responsibility had created room for betting addiction to spread among the youth
."Communities need parents, elders and religious leaders to guide young people again. Leadership at the family level remains one of the strongest tools for protecting future generations," he said.
Policy measures
Mr Iddrisu also questioned public policy on betting, saying government should consider stronger regulation of the industry while using tax revenue from betting to support youth employment and skills development.He further criticised community leaders who owned betting centres, arguing that such investments conflicted with efforts to discourage gambling among young people.
He urged religious leaders to continue educating their congregations on the social and economic consequences of gambling, while encouraging young people to pursue education, entrepreneurship and vocational training instead of depending on betting as a source of income.
"Young people need opportunities that create lasting income. Skills, enterprise and employment build wealth over time, while betting offers uncertain returns and often leaves families worse off," he said.