The National Lottery Authority has debunked allegations of corruption and mismanagement leveled against it by the Concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana(CLAAG).

The NLA in a statement described as 'baseless and without merit' the claims by the group.

It reaffirmed its commitment to helping the government achieve its objectives for the country.

Below is the statement

The National Lottery Authority(NLA) wishes to state categorically that, there is absolutely no mismanagement at the Authority as alleged by alien Concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana(CLAAG).

All the allegations raised by CLAAG against the Authority are baseless and without merit.

CLAAG has Credibility Deficit

First and foremost, it is very important to state that, the Concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana(CLAAG) and its leadership is Not Legally Recognized by the National Lottery Authority.

The only body which is Legally Recognized by the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722) and Lottery Registration, 2008(L.I. 1948) is the Lotto Marketing Companies, in this case, the Association of Lotto Marketing Companies.

The Association of Lotto Marketing Companies has been the only sales force of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) since the establishment of the Authority. The Government through the NLA generate revenue with the absolute help of the Association of Lotto Marketing Companies not CLAAG.

CLAAG has absolutely NO WORKING RELATIONSHIP with the National Lottery Authority.

Per our checks at the Registrar-General's Department, CLAAG was registered on 26th January 2016 by Solomon Aboagye and Kwaku Duah-Tawiah. These two gentlemen are not registered members of the Association of Lotto Marketing Companies.

According to confirmed reports, CLAAG only works for the interest of illegal Lotto Operators, Agents and Writers.

Now responding to the allegations by CLAAG against the Authority.

1. License Fees of One Million Ghana Cedis

One of the nightmares of the Authority is illegal Lottery and that the NLA supported by Association of Lotto Marketing Companies many times caused the arrest and prosecution of the illegal lotto operators, agents and writers. However, due to resource constraints, political pressure and interferences there were no appropriate sanctions meted out to the illegal lotto operators, agents and writers. Also most of the illegal lotto operators and agents were operating with license provided by the Veterans Administration Ghana under Act 844 which empowered the Veterans to engage in raffles or Lottery to the realization of economic and financial empowerment to the Veterans.

The National Lottery Authority with the blessing of the Ministry of Finance adopted a more innovative and pragmatic approach to address illegal lottery operations in Ghana through registration, validation and granting of license to Banker to Banker Lotto Operators, Agents and Writers who are able to satisfy all the requirements of the National Lottery Authority.

Payment of the required license Fee is the first step of registration. In order to do due diligence on the documents submitted by Applicants, the Authority in close collaboration with the Security Agencies are doing a thorough background checks on all the Applicants in compliance with the National Lotto Act 722 and Lottery Regulations(L.I. 1948) and other relevant Statutory Laws of Ghana.

The thorough background checks on Applicants will help the Authority to deal with the issues of:

1. Character and criminal records of applicants

2. Foreigners

3. Money Laundering

4. Other important security matters.

The License Fees of one Million Ghana Cedis was agreed by both the Board of NLA and Private Lotto Operators and Agents. The One Million Ghana Cedis License Fees was never a self-imposition by the Authority.

The responsible Private Lotto Operators and Agents such as Ghana National Chamber of Banker to Banker Lotto Operators and Agents (GNCLBBLOA), Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA), Licensed Lotto Operators and Agents Association (LLOAA) and several others have gladly paid their license fee awaiting validation of their documents before finally a license will be issued to them under NLA-VAG Collaboration.

2. VAG Lottey

In order to have a uniform regulation and supervision, the National Lottery Authority at some point wanted to push for the repealing of the VAG Act 844 and Gaming Act 721 so that all forms of lottery and games of chance would be under the National Lottery Authority. The Gaming Commission of Ghana established under the Gaming Act 721 is under the Ministry of Interior whereas the Veterans Administration Ghana established under the VAG Act 844 is under the Ministry of Defence.

However, the Ministry of Defence in agreement with the Board of National Lottery Authority and Veterans Administration Ghana decided to collaborate beneficially to both Institutions instead of repealing the Act 844.

In accordance with the agreement between the NLA and VAG supported by Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Finance and Economic Management Team of Government, the National Lottery Authority will very soon start the operations of the NLA-VAG Lottery to the benefit of Government, Veterans, NLA, Lotto Marketing Companies, Private Lotto Operators/Agents and potential customers.

The National Lottery Authority recently held a meeting with the Private Lotto Operators and Agents who have paid their respective License Fees on 15th March 2019 to discuss the final modalities towards the successful implementation of the VAG Lottery. The meeting was very successful and all parties at the meeting agreed to the roadmap for VAG Lottery Operations.

Due to the NLA-VAG collaboration, the Veterans are now experiencing tremendous improvements in their lives including refurbishment of the Headquarters of Veterans Administration Ghana.

Therefore the accusations by CLAAG against NLA is absolutely false and baseless.

3. E-kiosk Project

As part of efforts to modernize the operations of lottery business in Ghana and ensure successful cushioning of the business interest of Government, Private Sector, Lotto Marketing Companies and other Stakeholders, the National Lottery Authority through a Public-Private Partnership has introduced the E-Kiosks Concept in the country aimed at transforming the lottery business to generate substantial revenue for Government as well as to create jobs.

The E-Kiosk Project which is a Private Sector led initiative in Partnership with NLA has ABSOLUTELY NO COST TO GOVERNMENT.

The successful implementation of the E-Kiosk Project will help to: 1. Expand the operations, capacity and business interest of the Authority in terms of coverage and spread across the country.

2. Increase the revenue generation of the Authority on behalf of Government for development and socio-economic transformation of the country in line with the Economic Policy of Government .

3. Create sustainable jobs especially for the graduates in line with the vision of President Akufo-Addo and Government.

4. Support the revenue collection of the Ghana Revenue Authority.

5. Increase the capacity and reach out potential of the Banking Industry to Customers/Clients and prospective customers.

6. Improve the delivery services of the Ghana Post Company Limited.

7. Enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Mobile Money Services and payments of Utility Bills.

8. Increase commission that the Authority pays to Lotto Marketing Companies.

9. Usher the Country into a Cash-lite Society.

10. Promote the digitalization and digitization of the Economy.

11. Fight against lottery stigmatization.

12. Bring an end to illegal Lottery operations.

It is very important to state that, the E-Kiosk Concept would help Government to expand the Economy, increase the capacity for revenue generation and collection , and create sustainable jobs. And that, the E-kiosk has absolutely no financial burden to taxpayers and Government.

The allegation by CLAAG to the effect that, NLA is demanding GHC 15, 000 and GHC 20, 000 from Lotto Marketing Companies for the E-kiosk is absolutely false . The National Lottery Authority with the help of collaborators are arranging for a much cheaper and convenient payment modalities for the Lotto Marketing Companies.

Also the National Lottery Authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and MMDAS are locating Safe Sites for the Lotto Marketing Companies to help them in positioning their E-kiosks across the Country.

In a nutshell, the E-Kiosk Concept is a Private Sector driven initiative with no financial burden to Government and taxpayers.

Therefore, all the allegations by CLAAG against the National Lottery Authority are absolutely meaningless, and the supposed threat of demonstrations against the Authority by CLAAG is absolutely baseless.

The National Lottery Authority is focused on delivering the vision of Government. NLA will never allow itself to be blackmailed by the empty threats of demonstration by CLAAG.