Takoradi, Feb 5, GNA - The Department of National Lotteries (DNL) contributed 30 billion cedis directly into the consolidated fund last year.

The DNL also paid 5.6 billion cedis as Lotto Receiver's Commission to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 2.1billion as VAT, 1.5 billion as tax and 1.12 billion cedis as withholding tax.

The total payments for 2004 stood at 40.32 billion cedis. Mr. Kojo Adda, Director of the DNL said these at the commissioning of its new offices in Takoradi.

He said the DNL was facing several challenges and would soon introduce more marketing approaches to win back their clients.

Mr. Adda said the Department would pursue its quest for automation and monopoly by ensuring that the National Weekly Lotto (Amendment) Law 233 was repealed to make the DNL the sole operator in the sector. He said the DNL wanted to get closer to its clients and would establish more offices in other parts of the country.

Madam Sophia Horner-Sam, Acting Deputy Western Regional Minister, said the role of the DNL in the economy was vital and urged the Department to develop appropriate mechanisms to reverse the increasing number of illegal lotteries in the country.

Mr. Daniel Mensah of the National Lotteries Receivers Union said the activities of illegal lotto operators were a major challenge facing the Department, adding that, "the department would soon arrest and prosecute all illegal lotto operators in collaboration with the Police". He noted that decentralisation was good and could promote the rapid growth of the districts.

Mr Mensah appealed to lotto writers and receivers not to place their kiosks on waterways, drains and fire and water joints. This would minimise the incidence of removal, re-location and the changing of operational areas.

Mr. Mensah said the DNL would this year use mobile collapsible table to make DNL visible in all communities and districts.