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Jackpot machines lead to shortage of 50p coin

Mr Sharif-Deen Ibrahim, Sissala East District Social Welfare Director, said the practice has the potential of causing artificial inflation if not checked.

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Some members of the community say the main patrons of the jackpot machines are children who hoard the coins to operate the machines such that other businesses are deprived of the coin.

The jackpot machines are seen across almost every community including Tumu, the district capital.

Mr Sharif-Deen lamented the fact that children are the main patrons of these gambling machines, a habit that is encouraging theft at home and taking attention from their studies.

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Mr Ibrahim expressed the wish that the practice could be banned totally in the District to ensure that the youth find meaningful means of employment.

Mr Hudu Narima, an ICT Student, complained bitterly to the Ghana News Agency, saying for him the game was an opportunity for operators to exploit the people.

He said at Tasor and Kulfuo communities, one could not get 50 pesewa coin as change after they buy provisions at various shops, and when he inquired on the reasons for the shortage, he was told the 50 pesewa coin were locked up in the jackpot machines.

Mr Narima said the owners of the machines alleged to be some foreign nationals usually come round every week to open the machines and take the money away leaving a little behind for the people to continue playing.

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“I understand they usually count an amount of GH₵1,000.00 worth of coins and pour inside each machine and in a week’s time, they come round and in each machine they can get about GH₵3,000.00 worth of coins”, he said.

“I witnessed the opening of one of the machines and I was astonished to see the amount of coins that came out of the machine”, he said.

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