Management of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) has condemned media publications that suggest some impropriety in the licensing of Private Lotto Operators (PLO) by the authority.
It denied claims over two million people will be put out of their jobs in the wake of the licensing and stressed it has constantly engaged the leadership of the Lotto Marketing Companies (LMCs) and the members themselves.
Setting the records straight in a rejoinder, it indicated the Board and Management of NLA in June licensed Private Lotto Operators, and the agreement was valid for one year, from 1st January 2022 to 31st December 2022, and not from May to December as indicated in the media.
According to Management, PLOs operating the 5/90 Game under the National Lotto Act 2006 (Act 722) are required to pay an amount of GH¢1.5 million while those operating under the Veterans Administration (VAG) Act 2012 (Act 844) would pay an amount of GH¢500,000.00.
“Those who wish to operate both will pay an amount of GH¢2 million. These steps were taken to sanitize the lotto industry and also rake in more revenue for government as hitherto these PLOS paid no taxes to government.”
“NLA in conjunction with the security services has since last year been conducting swoops nationwide to enforce the provisions in Act 722 and Act 844. The task force has confiscated equipment and items and handed several people to the police.”
“Thus, persons caught manufacturing, distributing, selling or retailing lotto products and services without authorization from the National Lottery Authority have been found culpable under Act 722 and L.I. 1948 and sanctioned.”
“These incidents have also been widely reported in the media thus the impression created by your article that NLA is not enforcing the rules is absolutely false,” the Rejoinder said.
According to Management, the NLA has been exploring the possibility of digitalizing the VAG Game to increase revenue and keep honouring its contractual agreement with the Veterans Administration of Ghana (VAG).
And as part of this effort, Management has been deliberating with the Board on building a game for VAG without it being a 5/90 in order to independently grow both games and increase revenue and honour its obligations with the Veterans Administration Ghana or the Military.
“The NLA currently pays VAG a sum of GH¢120,000 every month. In March 2022, the Board and Management presented a cross-country vehicle and a cheque of GH¢500,000 to VAG, all in fulfilment of the Authority’s obligations to VAG.”
“In spite of these, the VAG Game is not fetching the Authority enough money currently. We, therefore, believe going digital with the VAG Game as has been done with the Original 5/90 Game on the Point of Sale Terminal (POST) and Online, can rake in enough revenue to support our Veterans, support the government and our Good Causes,” it said.
The government, Management said, has been heavily driving the digital agenda hence many of the services rendered by state institutions have gone digital and the NLA is one of the few yet to go completely digital.
It indicated that the NLA conservatively operated its games manually on paper and eventually automatized its operations on Point of Sale Terminals.
The dynamics of the times, it said, have therefore propelled the NLA into the digital space with the Original 5/90 currently being operated both digitally and on the Point of Sale Machine.
“The Director-General, Mr. Samuel Awuku upon his appointment together with the Board of NLA renegotiated the contract renewal with our online Partner, KGL from GH¢25 million to GH¢55 million to rake in more revenue for the Authority.”
“They also secured GH¢2 million for the Good Causes Foundation and an additional GH¢3 million as a Stabilization Fund to cushion our Lotto Marketing Companies (LMCs) and retailers, as we explore the gradual migration of going completely digital. “
“Several engagements have also been held with the LMCs on this matter and they have been categorically assured that the NLA would not take any drastic measures without informing them.”
The Authority, therefore, urged the general public to ignore any unfounded speculations.
Management assured the NLA is focused on achieving its core mandate of raising revenue for national development and to continue delivering quality service to its valued patrons.
The NLA generates revenue to support government’s developmental agenda and the Consolidated Fund and in February 2022, donated an amount of GH¢10 million to the Ministry of Finance in support of the YouStart Program.
NLA through the Good Causes Foundation has also touched the lives of several communities, individuals and institutions nationwide in the areas of Education, Health, Youth and Sports Development and Arts and Culture, the pillars under which the Foundation operates.
The NLA, Management said, is one of the most vibrant state institutions that is contributing its quota to the development of the nation’s infrastructure and is committed to raising revenue for the state.
“NLA is aware of the various steps taken by its detractors to tarnish its reputation and that of its members for personal and parochial gains. We believe that those persons involved are in league with some staff of NLA, as happens in most institutions, to look for supposed non-existent information that may tarnish the hard-won reputation of the Board, Management and members of NLA.”
“We would like to assure the general public and our valued patrons that there is no such impropriety, as Management operates an open-door policy that does not entertain any inappropriate behaviour.”
“As an Authority, our paramount interest lies in maximizing revenue for government; that has always been our avowed aim and is the sole agenda at the heart of all our operations.”