Kofi Osei Ameyaw – NLA Boss
The new National Lottery Authority (NLA) and Veterans Administration Ghana (VAG) joint lotto, which will commence operations this month, is expected to increase the funds going into the Consolidated Fund from the gaming industry.
The partnership is one step expected to stem the thriving illegal lottery operations in the country, according to the communications department of the NLA.
According to the statement, “The new arrangement will also create directly and indirectly 20,000 jobs across the country as well as increase the support rendered Ghanaian veterans.”
Before the agreement with the VAG, most of the private lotto operators and agents were operating with a licence granted under Act 844, a law which empowers the veterans to engage in raffles or lottery to the benefit of its membership.
However, the NLA-VAG partnership gives the NLA the sole authority to operate, manage and regulate VAG lotto.
Lacking the technology, infrastructure, machinery and resources to operate, manage and regulate VAG lotto, and, therefore, depending on third parties who were also abusing the lottery regulations and further impoverishing the veterans, VAG agreed to this new arrangement.
The licence issued by VAG to the aforementioned private lotto operators and agents came to an end on November 2018.
According to the statement, “It is only duly licensed lotto marketing companies and private lotto operators and agents that would be allowed to participate in the VAG lotto in strict accordance with the terms and conditions as contained in their respective licences.”
“Furthermore, necessary actions would be taken by the authority to clamp down on all unlicensed lotto operators and agents across the country.”
The VAG lotto will bring an additional revenue stream to the Consolidated Fund as well as ensure the creation of over 20,000 jobs directly and indirectly.
By A.R. Gomda