He asked also for the amendment of the Gaming Act 2006 (Act 721) to incorporate control measures to reduce the proliferation of gambling facilities in the country.

Making a statement on the floor of Parliament last week Thursday, Rev. Fordjour expressed alarm at the increasing number of gambling facilities and sports betting shops in the country.

He said many of the gambling facilities operated illegally as they did not have the authorisation from the National Gaming Commission.

Rev. Fordjour said the Gaming Act did not provide sufficient control measures for the management of the gambling, gaming and betting activities.

Besides, he said; "The lack of strict enforcement of the gaming laws by the National Gaming Commission and relevant law enforcement agencies gives room for the proliferation of gambling houses."

Effects of gambling

Rev. Fordjour said the country did not have the requisite resilience and capacity to contain the grave effects that the current state of gambling liberalisation posed.

He said the principle and practice of commercial gambling was alien to the country's rich values.

The legislator said the out-turn of society in the next 30 years, would not solely be a function of economic decisions and infrastructural investments, but also significantly dependent on the socio-cultural decisions and influences integrated into the society today.

"In the next 30 years, we do not wish to see a population rather skilful at gambling and objectionable quick-money-generating ventures, flawed with addiction and gambling-related psychological disorders.”

"We should seek to build society in which our indigenous cultural values are preserved and sustained across successive generations but not traded for insubstantial commercial gains," he said.

Task force

Rev. Fordjour proposed the establishment of a gaming regulatory task force by the Ministry of the Interior, the National Gaming Commission, the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and law enforcement agencies to "ensure conscientious and unbending enforcement of the existing gaming laws."