IN A DRIVE to change public perception on lotto, the Department of National Lotteries (DNL), has embarked on a number of innovative programmes.

The first among the programmes is the introduction of a new raffle called "Social Raffle" which will commence in March, next year.

Under this new raffle, the proceeds from the winning will go to a specific project. A winner would be required to choose where the winning bonus should be channeled to or invested. For instance, a winner may opt that his or her money be used to build a school, hospital for particular community or pay the school fees of a particular student or patient at named hospital ward.

Mr. Addo-Yobo, the deputy director of administration and corporate affairs, at press briefing in Accra last week, disclosed this.

The most interesting thing is that staker's name will be inscribed on the school or hospital of his choice. This is being done to prove that lotto is useful all over the world, he explained.

Apart from introducing this new raffle, the management has also increased the chances available for stakers to win more tickets by selecting randomly, a member from the general public to choose from six machines as well as two sets of balls for the draw on every Saturday.

These new measures are meant to ensure that DNL meets internationally accepted standards used in the United Kingdom, United States, South Africa and other places.

Formerly, both machine and the set of balls used for a draw were selected by a member of the lotto commission who picks the balls and determines the machine to be used for a particular draw. This phenomenon, Mr. Addo- Yobo noted, erodes public confidence in the game.

However, Mr. Addo- Yobo said Ghana is ranked second to South Africa on the continent.

For his part, Mr. Charles Mensah, the deputy director of finance and accounts, said DNL has also recruited more agents to sell the coupons, adding that they have been mandated to register with the receivers in their respective regions.

In addition, the stock level system, which limits receivers to purchase up to a certain number of coupons has been abolished.

According to Mr. Mensah, since the organization embarked on streamlining its operations in March, this year, revenue has increased from 30% to 50%, adding that ?12 billion had been paid to the consolidated fund.

He revealed that the organization experienced one of the biggest wins last May, when stakers won ?8 billion at a draw.

He was optimistic that with the introduction of new measures more clients would be attracted to the raffle.