Some bankers are addicted to gambling – Zanetor Rawlings reveals

Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings is raising concerns about gaming and betting addiction. This issue affects many Ghanaians, especially the youth.

She spoke at a program on gambling addiction and mental wellness at Accra Technical University. The Klottey Korle MP emphasized that society often focuses on substance abuse, particularly drugs.

However, she pointed out a growing problem: gaming addiction. “The most subtle one is the one associated with behavior that you do not recognize as addictive,” she said.

Dr. Rawlings noted that this addiction isn't limited to students or idle youth. It also affects professionals in critical sectors, including finance.

“There are people today who are in sensitive positions and are addicted,” she revealed. This can lead to misappropriating funds from others.

She described a dangerous cycle where well-paid individuals let compulsive behaviors take over. They may get fired from one job only to repeat the same behavior in another.

“This is not someone who started off as a student who could not afford rent,” she explained. These individuals have jobs where they meet their needs.

Her remarks serve as both an exposé and a call for reflection. She explained that addiction often arises from the brain's need for repeated pleasure.

Gaming or gambling provides an easy escape that can become a trap. “Once it lobs into the fact that a particular behavior generates pleasure, you keep doing it,” she warned.

Dr. Rawlings urges parents, educators, and policymakers to take these issues seriously. She calls for an honest national conversation about the mental health impacts of gaming and betting in Ghana.