Kofi Osei Ameyaw – NLA Boss
The Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA), operators of private lotteries in Ghana, has lauded the National Lottery Authority (NLA) for its Public-Private-Partnership initiative aimed at lifting the ban on private participation in lottery in the country.
Per the initiative, members of GLOA will now be allowed to operate their respective lotteries under the supervision of the National Lottery Authority.
But each private lotto operator will be required to apply for a licence at a fee of GH¢1 million to be allowed to operate a private lotto countrywide as against GH¢500,000 proposed earlier by GLOA as a body.
Discussions on the matter started a couple of months ago and were finalised on Tuesday at a meeting organized by the Authority with private lotto operators in the country.
It was chaired by the Board Chairman of the Authority, Francis Nyonyo Agboada.
In attendance were the Director-General of NLA, Kofi OseiAmeyaw, board and management members of the Authority.
GLOA members at the meeting included Dan Borsor, chairman, Seth Amoani, Secretary, Frank Agyei, a famous operator in Kumasi, James Obiri Asare of Obiri Lotteries, Joe Ayivor of Ape Lotto, Samuel Ahiadekeh of Vision Lotto and Noah Afonope of Casa De Oro – (Star Lotto).
Mr Agboada said the various licences would be subject to annual renewals to ensure strict compliance with the requirements and the eligibility criteria.
Speaking to the media on the development, Dan Borsor, GLOA Chairman, commended the NLA for the bold initiative of involving private lotto operators in lotteries in the country.
He said given the fact that GLOA members have the potential to employ many unemployed Ghanaians, the decision by the Authority was a laudable one that has to be encouraged and sustained.
Mr Borsor also indicated that the operationalization of the initiative would go a long way in helping raise revenue through private lotteries to support government projects and programmes.
He was however of the view that the licence fee of GH¢1 million was on the high side and pleaded with the NLA to reconsider its decision on the amount to be charged as a licensing fee.
According to him, if the fee is not reviewed downwards, it could push a lot more of GLOA members out of business since they might not be able to raise the amount.
On his part, Seth Amoani, Secretary of GLOA, thanked the NLA for its initiative and their willingness to work with private lotto operators under a public-private –partnership arrangement, which was supported by Section 2(2) of Act 722 of 2006.
“We accept the licensing regime but we appeal to the NLA to consider the circumstances of each member under the licensing regime,” he said.
A business desk report