Business News of Sunday, 14 October 2012

Source: GNA

NLA contributes GHc 188.4 million to consolidated fund

Dr Kwabena Duffour, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning on Friday said the National Lottery Authority (NLA) had paid a total of GH? 188.4 million into the consolidated fund and paid 87 per cent of its 2012 targets into the fund.

Dr Duffour noted that the Authority raked in the highest revenue ever in its history as a result of the ongoing Portable Automated Data Process Machine (PADPM) project, when the NLA sold up to GH? 5.5 million in a record week.

He was speaking as a guest speaker at a dinner dance of the Authority to celebrate its 5th Anniversary in Accra.

Dr Duffour said the country is now listed among the top 10 fastest growing economies in the World and the fastest growing economy in Africa.

He said Ghana however remains dependent on international financial and technical assistance as well as remittances from Ghanaians in the Diaspora.

He said steps are being undertaken to re-engineer the institution by restructuring the organisation, its products portfolios and platforms as well as to develop its human talents.

Dr Duffour commended the efforts of the Authority which has metamorphosed from the Department of National Lotteries; for their role over the last 50 years in supporting government in employment generation.

Mr. Kojo Andah, Director General of the Authority said the corporate entity has covered all the laws pertaining to lottery whilst its primary duty was to generate revenue for national development.

He said the Authority had employed close to 7,000 including 5,500 new jobs under the PADPM.

Mr Andah said the Authority is convinced that its collaboration with private institutions would help ensure sanity within the legal space established by the National Lotto Act 722, in 2006.