MRS. GRACE COLEMAN, Deputy Minister of Finance, has come under sharp criticisms for her role in the intended abolition of the banker-to- banker lotto business.

Her critics think she has a personal interest in the collapse of the business.

"It is a deliberate attempt to kill private lotto operations", Mr. Dominic Anoma, National President of the District Weekly Lotto Operators Association (DWLOA) has observed.

In a statement issued in Kumasi last week, Anoma inferred that the decision was more political and had no economic sense.

Anoma, who expressed shock at the approval of Cabinet for the abolition of the operation of private lotto, asked Parliament to rethink the decision before taking a firm stand on the bill.

He suggested that the government finds ways of restructuring the operations instead of abolishing it completely.

The DWLOA spokesman described the decision to abolish their operations as harsh and of no benefit to the nation.

According to Anoma, the unemployment situation in the country was likely to be compounded since the over two million people engaged in the private lotto business would eventually be displaced.

He said it would be unfortunate if this happens at a time the government was trying to create jobs for the teeming unemployed population.

DWLOA's National President, however, suggested two ways to involve the private lotto business to give meaning to the government's call for private sector involvement in resuscitating the economy.

He said banker-to-banker operators should be asked to register with an appropriate office for effective supervision of payment of taxes as a way of plugging the holes in the national treasury.

The payment of commission to receivers should also be regularised by the Commissioner and embodied in the lottery law.

Anoma also suggested that 25% commission on sales be paid to receivers and added that 7.5% of it (25%) must go the government as tax.

All stakers must also be made to pay a 12.5% VAT on all stakes.

This way, the government stands to mobilise funds from all operators, receivers and stakers, Anoma pointed out.

"If these steps are considered in restructuring the private lotto business, it would not be seen as a drain on the economy", he claimed.