The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has initiated innovative programmes over the past six years to strengthen its operations. The authority is expected to launch multiple draws which will see game draws in the mornings, afternoons and evenings to provide more opportunities for lotto stakers to win money.
The Director General of the NLA Mr. Samuel Awuku revealed this at the Minister’s press briefing session on the theme “Breaking Barriers, Setting Standards, Reaching New Heights” at the Ministry of Information press centre in Accra.
According to the Director General, the authority has licensed Third-Party Collaborators like the KGL Group, Wotriye, Daywa and Super 6, to operate games online, which enabled persons to stake lotto from the comfort of their homes and offices. The NLA has also developed an instant Pay platform using the short code *389*1000 for players to instantly redeem wins up to GHS 1,200 after the draw.
In addition to the above, the authority has partnered with Lotto Marketing Companies to create Prize Payment Centres at the regional offices across the country for wins up to GHS 12,000.00. The Director General indicated that the Authority is expected to earn over 90 million Cedis this year from its online operations.
Mr. Samuel Awuku noted that the NLA budgeted GHS 20 million to provide various social amenitieis for some communities nationwide under the ‘Good Causes Foundation’. This he said was part of their effort to support national development. According to the NLA boss, the authority invested in health, education, sports, arts and culture.
He mentioned that the NLA supported the people of Appiatse, with GHS 100,000.00, supported the construction of a corn milling facility for the Gonten Community, donated office equipment to the Ghana Police Service among several other interventions.
“We invest in these projects to fulfill our statutory obligation, give back to the communities in which we operate and let our patrons know that when you do not win your money supports national development” Mr. Awuku said.
The NLA Boss indicated that the authority has managed to clear a greater portion of its GHS 50 million unpaid wins legacy dept it inherited and assured that efforts were ongoing to settle the remaining. The Director General also informed the media that the NLA raised GHS 290 million through its operations in 2022.
Mr. Awuku however bemoaned the influx of illegal operators within the sector explaining that 40 percent of its market was currently in the hands of illegal operators. This he said the authority would work with the Ghana Police and National Security to conduct a swoop to arrest illegal lotto operators in the country.
Source: MOI (PR Unit)
