The suspect
The National Lottery Authority (NLA), in conjunction with the Lotto Marketing Companies, has assisted the Ashanti Regional Police Command to swoop on lotto fraudsters in the region.
In the process, the team managed to arrest one Richard Fordjour.
Upon his arrest, it was revealed that Fordjour, who allegedly owns a company called ‘The Rulers’, was said to be charging a rooftop commission of 40% through his unregistered business.
He was accused of running down the business of members of the Lotto Marketing Companies and a breach of NLA regulations. Lotto Marketing Companies registered by the NLA pay 20%.
The Head of the Public Relations Unit of NLA, Razak Opoku, who confirmed the arrest, said the payment of the ‘outrageous’ commission to the detriment of Lotto Marketing Companies would not be tolerated by the NLA, and would continue to go after the lotto fraudsters who are denying the government of the needed revenue.
A roadmap had been put in place to ensure both the Lotto Marketing Companies and the Private Lotto Operators would have the same commission, he said.
The NLA official said Fordjour had not made any effort to apply to the NLA for a licence but had been deceiving patrons of the games in the Ashanti Region that his business is licensed by the NLA.
“The company has not applied for a licence, let alone permitted the outrageous 40%,” he disclosed.
“The public is, therefore, encouraged to report any Private Lotto Operator suspected of not being a registered entity and paying outrageous commissions to the NLA or the police,” the Public Relations Officer stressed.