The Gaming Commission has banned celebrities from endorsing betting companies or being used in their advertisements. The decision, the Commission explains, is due to the increasing number of celebrities endorsing betting companies – a strategy that in its view can lure young fans into gambling.
Reactions to the ban have come from many celebrities including singer Efya, who in a tweet on Wednesday, October 14, lamented that they were missing out on good money.
“Did you know that as a Ghanaian musician artist or creative, you can’t endorse an alcoholic brand of any sort? And now no betting brand either??? How do we fix this? We are losing big bags,” she tweeted.
Efya’s tweet was in response to that of Afrobeats artiste Wendy Shay’s tweet in which she threatened to take the FDA and Gaming Commission to court.
Dancehall act, Shatta Wale, who is known for being outspoken, has also encouraged his colleagues to rise, fight and speak for themselves.
In a video on Thursday, October 15, he said it was sad that regulatory bodies were not doing their work well.
“It is so sad, our industries are not doing their work in this country and this will not affect me but most celebrities as whole,” he said.
Earlier this year celebrities including Nadia Buari, Wendy Shay, Efya, Jackie Appiah, Moesha Boduong, Salma Mumin, Selly Galley, Zynell Zuh, Sandra Ankobiah, Kwadwo Nkansah (Lilwin), and KiDi were all signed as ambassadors for Bet Planet, a betting company in Ghana.
However, in the new guideline issued for operators, the Commission stated that companies could not encourage people to bet using individuals with huge social media following.
“Operators shall not use celebrities in their advertisements to entice the general public to gamble,” the statement read.
