Across Ghana today, a troubling reality is unfolding. For many young people, betting and transactional sex have emerged as survival strategies not by choice, but by economic desperation. While these paths may offer short-term relief, evidence shows they are driving youth into long-term psychological, social, and economic harm.
With rising living costs, persistent youth unemployment, and limited access to decent jobs, young people are turning to risky alternatives. Betting promises quick money with little effort, while transactional sex provides immediate income or material support. Both thrive in an environment of economic hardship, weak regulation, and shrinking hope.
Recent national surveys reveal the scale of the problem. Gambling has become deeply entrenched among Ghanaian youth, with the majority having tried some form of betting, and a significant proportion showing problematic behaviour or moderate risk. Alarmingly, nearly half of those who gamble report serious psychological distress, including depression and anxiety, directly linked to betting. Mental health experts also note that gambling addiction affects both young men and women, with women accounting for roughly one-quarter of addicted youth gamblers. Among tertiary students, the situation is particularly concerning. Nearly half report using their stipends for betting, and some even admit to spending tuition money on gambling activities. These figures make it clear that betting is no longer just harmless entertainment, it has become a major driver of stress and mental health challenges for young people across the country.
Alongside betting, transactional or survival sex has emerged as another coping mechanism for economically vulnerable youth, particularly young women. Recent studies in Ghana show that almost one in four young women report ever engaging in transactional sex, with around one in six having done so within the past year. This behaviour exposes youth to serious risks, including sexual exploitation, violence, sexually transmitted infections, stigma, and long-term psychological trauma. Like betting, transactional sex may provide immediate relief, but it often leaves lasting consequences for health, dignity, and future opportunities.
The reasons youth resort to these twin survival strategies are largely structural. High unemployment and underemployment limit access to stable income, while easy access to betting apps and informal survival sex arrangements exacerbates risky behaviour. Aggressive advertising and social normalization glamorize gambling and create silent tolerance for transactional sex as a coping mechanism. In addition, limited financial literacy and scarce mental health support mean many young people are unaware of the long-term consequences or lack the means to seek help early.
Betting and transactional sex trap youth in cycles of instability. Financial losses, emotional distress, health risks, stigma, and broken aspirations weaken productivity and threaten national development. Mental health professionals warn that youth engaged in these behaviours are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem, depression, social withdrawal, and chronic anxiety, making the transition into stable adulthood increasingly difficult.
Addressing this crisis requires more than moral judgement, it demands deliberate and concrete actions. Government must prioritize job creation, skills training, and youth entrepreneurship, while strengthening regulation of betting advertisements and enforcing age restrictions. Mental health and addiction services must be expanded and made accessible to youth. Parents, schools, religious institutions, and community leaders must also engage young people in open conversations about money, dignity, and mental health, while promoting safer and sustainable alternatives for income generation.
Betting and transactional sex may help some young people survive today, but they are quietly destroying tomorrow. The warning signs are clear, the statistics are alarming, and the cost of inaction is too high. If Ghana allows its youth to remain trapped in these dangerous survival paths, the consequences will not only be personal but they will be generational.
Author:
George Akom
Snr. Assistant Registrar
Ghana Communication Technology University
+233243387291, kingakom77@gmail.com
