On a hot Friday afternoon in Accra, 21-year-old Akwasi sits outside a betting shop, eyes fixed on his phone screen. He insists he is “just trying his luck,” but his friends know he spends almost all his daily allowance placing bets on football matches he never watches. “One win can change my life,” he says with a nervous laugh, though he admits he has lost more than he can count.
Akwasi is not alone. From betting to tramadol, alcohol to endless social media scrolling, addiction has quietly woven itself into the lives of Ghana’s youth. What was once whispered about in communities has now become a visible struggle, cutting across students, apprentices, and even young professionals.
The New Faces of Addiction
In most places in the cities, young men openly buy tramadol, sometimes in dangerously high doses, not for medical use but to “push through” long hours of work or nightlife. Some girls take it to numb emotional pain. At first, people took it to deal with stress. Now we are seeing dependency, overdoses, and long-term health damage.
But not all addictions come in pills or bottles. Betting and social media have become everyday traps. With betting shops on almost every street corner, the lure of quick money is strong. Meanwhile, students confess to spending hours on TikTok and Instagram instead of revising for exams.
Ama, a 20-year-old university student, says: “I tell myself I’ll check TikTok for just 10 minutes, but I end up scrolling past midnight. It’s hard to stop, and sometimes I feel like I’m wasting my life.”
Why are Young People Vulnerable?
Experts and parents alike point to a mix of reasons. Unemployment plays a major role—many graduates struggle to find jobs, so betting looks like a way out. Peer pressure also pushes young people into risky behaviours, especially when friends make it look “normal.”
Social media influencers sometimes glamorize drug use or excessive drinking in music videos and comedy skits. “It becomes trendy,” explains a youth pastor in Accra. “When young people see their role models doing it, they believe it’s acceptable.”
Another hidden factor is mental health. In Ghana, issues like depression or anxiety are rarely discussed openly. Some young people turn to substances as a coping mechanism. “It’s easier to laugh about tramadol in a song than to talk about sadness at home,” says Kofi, a 25-year-old mechanic in Cape Coast.
Breaking the Cycle
Addiction is tough, but not unbreakable. Around Ghana, small initiatives are beginning to make a difference. Some churches and youth groups now hold open forums where young people share their struggles without fear of judgment. A few schools have introduced peer counselling, helping students talk through stress instead of bottling it up.
Health experts suggest three main steps:
• Education: Honest conversations about addiction—not just fear-driven lectures—can give young people real tools to resist pressure.
• Support Systems: Families need to replace shame with understanding. A son addicted to betting needs guidance, not ridicule.
• Access to Help: More affordable counselling services and rehabilitation centres are urgently needed across the country.
There is Hope
Despite the challenges, there is hope. Many young people are finding ways to break free. Akwasi, the football betting enthusiast, recently joined a local youth fellowship that encourages members to save money collectively. “I still struggle,” he admits, “but at least I don’t feel alone anymore.”
Addiction may look like chains, but those chains can be broken with awareness, compassion, and community action. Ghana’s youth are resilient. With the right support, the same young people who feel trapped today can become leaders of change tomorrow.
As written by: Maame Akua Kyerewah-Antwi