Ghana MP Seeks Shorter Hours for Arcades

November 23, 2009

A Member of Parliament in Ghana is blaming videogames, at least partly, for declining standards of education in the country.

Dr. Kofi Asarae, MP for the southern Ghana town of Akwatia, is pushing for a bye-law that would force such videogame centers to remain closed during the day, in order to eliminate their ability to lure students away from school and their studies.

Dr. Asarae, reports PeaceFMOnline, would like to see the facilities remain closed until 1800 hours every day.

Posted in Games & Culture Games & Education Video Game Critics

Comments

Re: Ghana MP Seeks Shorter Hours for Arcades

Submitted by ZAR on Tue, 11/24/2009 - 07:06.

A former crown colony of Great Britain and also another serious case of the UK-virus.

"Blame everything else for the total failure of your social politics."

ZAR.

Re: Ghana MP Seeks Shorter Hours for Arcades

Submitted by Mechadon on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 22:54.

The students will simply find someplace else to ditch school.

Re: Ghana MP Seeks Shorter Hours for Arcades

Submitted by PumaFau on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 20:27.

Blaming videogames for education problems in a third world country is moronic

Never underestimate the power of idiots in large amounts.

Re: Ghana MP Seeks Shorter Hours for Arcades

Submitted by hellfire7885 on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 19:05.

Maybe instead they should look into WHY kids choose to ditch instead of giving them less to do when they ditch.

Re: Ghana MP Seeks Shorter Hours for Arcades

Submitted by Roh02 on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 17:37.

once again adults are getting screwed for the sake of the children urgh dont they realise these kids are gonna grow up eventually THINK of the children seriosly think about it properly your screwing them with this in the long run anyway.

many parents that want to go to these arcades for obvious reasons have to go durring school hours

also stop trying to pass the blame I dont know anything about ghanas education system but odds are if its s**t its their own fault

Re: Ghana MP Seeks Shorter Hours for Arcades

Submitted by killatia on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 13:26.

Well if there is a significant amount of students going to arcades then school then I don't see a problem with restricting the hours. Otherwise its a waste of time.

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

Re: Ghana MP Seeks Shorter Hours for Arcades

Submitted by Cerabret100 on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 14:01.

I think that's the main question, do they have evidence that this causes a significant amount of truancy.

Re: Ghana MP Seeks Shorter Hours for Arcades

Submitted by Yuuri on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 16:03.

Or is it an effect of truancy? Some will skip even if they have no where to go while doing so.

Re: Ghana MP Seeks Shorter Hours for Arcades

Submitted by beemoh on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 12:35.

Ah, Ghana, clearly still living in a bygone era. That is, one where there are still arcades.

Re: Ghana MP Seeks Shorter Hours for Arcades

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 11:51.

So are they going to force alleyways and vacant lots to close during school hours? What about forcing at least one parent in each home to remain home during school hours to insure that kids are not hanging out at home. We should also close all malls in general. Everyone knows kids like to go to the mall.

I am sure there are dozens of other places kids like to hang out every day instead of going to school that need to be shut down.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary

Re: Ghana MP Seeks Shorter Hours for Arcades

Submitted by sharpshooterbabe on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 12:26.

I agree w/you Zach. They haven't even proven that the kids go to arcade or how many do or again if they stay home & play. They do not need to close down an arcade. Hell have them close down the mall full of arcades, but the malls can't do it, b/c if they do, the arcades will get charged a fee for closing down early probably.

"It's better to be hated for who you are, then be loved for who you are not." - Montgomery Gentry

Re: Ghana MP Seeks Shorter Hours for Arcades

Submitted by kagirinai on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 11:56.

As reactionary solutions go, this isn't exactly a terrible idea though. Sure, students will likely migrate elsewhere, but it will probably cut down on vagrancy if only by a tiny ammount.

There is a better way to do this, however. If you want to legislate that children be in school, then make it illegal for them to be elsewhere during school hours (unattended at least), then impose some sort of small fine or punishment for establishments that allow children in during school hours. This way, it's not specific to arcades, and the establishments themselves have cause to enforce the policy.

Re: Ghana MP Seeks Shorter Hours for Arcades

Submitted by Skillz817 on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 11:32.

*sigh* I sure do miss playing Tekken 3 at the arcades with family and friends.

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