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NLA sets up prize payment centres; begins instant payment of wins

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admin
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NLA

The National Lottery Authority (NLA) wishes to announce to its cherished patrons, the general-public and all stakeholders that it has set up Prize Payment Centers at its Head Office and all of its Regional and District Offices nationwide.  The exercise, which took effect from Monday 9th May 2022, will be operated by certified Lotto Marketing Companies (LMCs).

Patrons of NLA Games can now redeem their wins, instantly after the Draw irrespective of the amount, at any of these Prize Payment Centers nationwide.

From 8th March 2022, the Authority has also been making instant payments to winners of small amounts after its live Draws.

Patrons with payments to the tune of GH¢1,200.00 or less have the option of redeeming their wins instantly after the Draw via USSD code *389*1000#.

To redeem your wins instantly:

  • Dial *389*1000#
  • Select Option 2 (Win Payment)
  • Enter Your Winning Ticket Number
  • Confirm Your Winning Ticket Number
  • Enter Your Surname
  • Select Mobile Network
  • Enter Phone Number
  • Select ID Type
  • Enter ID Number
  • Wait for Your Wallet To be Credited

The National Lottery Authority has instituted these initiatives to reduce the wait period for payment of wins, restore the confidence of players and ultimately enhance the playing experience for patrons.

NLA wishes to thank its cherished patrons and stakeholders for keeping faith with the Authority.  The Authority remains committed to its mandate to create moments of hope and happiness through exciting lottery games and to generate revenue for national development.

For further enquiries, kindly call our customer service help lines on 0266-087-966 or 0266-087-946.

NLA, Development Through Games.

SIGNED

MANAGEMENT

COKA welcomes newly elected NPP executives to the block

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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Odeneho Kwaku Appiah - Ashanti Regional NPP chair hopeful

The Ashanti Regional Chairman hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, alias COKA, has welcomed the newly elected executives to the echelon of the party and thus congratulated them for their victories.

In a congratulatory message to all newly elected polling station and constituency executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), especially those in the Ashanti Region, the former Afigya Kwabre South Constituency Chairman, who is tipped by political watchers in the Ashanti Region to unseat the famous Chairman Wontumi, noted that with their victory the NPP had won.

He reminded the elected executives of their roles to reach out to those who lost with an olive branch and bring them on board to form a united front. “Let us reach out to them and see how best we can work together as one family. Let us rise and build together to make breaking the 8 year political cycle a reality,” he posted on his social media platforms, and reminded them that the 2024 general election was going to be keenly contested, and therefore it was very important that all NPP members were brought on board to help win the elections.

He, however, suggested that those who did not win their positions should take it in good faith and give full support to their counterparts who emerged victorious with the conviction that the ultimate winner was and should be the party, and not any individual. Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah also proposed that the Ashanti Region initiates the unity talks to position the party in readiness for the 2024 elections.

The Regional Chairman hopeful reminded all party members of the role the Ashanti Region played in NPP, especially when it comes to general elections. “Indeed, Ashanti Region is the heartbeat of the New Patriotic Party, and contributes, at least, 20% of votes to the party in national elections,” he pointed out, and pleaded that the Ashanti Region must get it right this time and never disappoint.

He prayed that all faithful party members especially those in the region he is seeking to lead must to ensure that the party emerges from the ongoing internal elections stronger and better to win the next general elections.

COKA expressed optimism that at the end of all the elections at all levels, the best men and women will be elected to steer the affairs of party for the next four years.

Editorial: All hands on deck to rebuild Bawku peace

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

After a downpour recorded in Bawku on Monday night, some unidentified gunmen forayed into some suburbs of the Municipality, sporadically firing gunshots. At one of the areas, the gunmen reportedly fired on five persons who, according to the police from the area, were pronounced dead when they rushed the victims to the hospital.

The armed police personnel who rushed there to foil the attacks by the gunmen escaped before state security personnel arrived.

The local conflict in Bawku resurfaced a few months ago, and hitherto, one cannot figure out what exactly could have sparked the tension.

Listening to Chief Superintendent Simon Peter Akabati, the Bawku Municipal Police Commander, on Accra FM on Tuesday night, he said the situation in Bawku, like the weather, was unstable.

For example, he said, before Monday night’s shoot-out, Bawku was enjoying some stable peace after some recorded heightened tension.

Ruling out a chieftaincy dispute as spurring the recent tension, Chief Superintendent Akabati, in his view, pointed out some ethnic differences as what could have triggered the fresh worrying situation, which, he believed, had drawn some ‘terrorists’ from Ghana’s landlocked neighbouring countries to join in wrecking the peace in Bawku.

He argued that the unknown gunmen, who he believed could not be Ghanaian nationals, use sophisticated arms, although he did not rule out that there are sophisticated arms in the hands of some Ghanaians. It seems that the police in the municipality are overwhelmed by the arms in the hands of the public – both nationals and foreigners – who threaten the peace of Bawku.

So worrying and disturbing is the situation in Bawku that, as soon as possible, the state must pool the expertise of eminent chiefs, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and celebrities to begin the peace talks in Bawku, while National Security, relying on snippets of information it picks from the ground, clandestinely seals all gaping holes.

Having said that, the crazy bald heads and bloodthirsty politicians and nation wreckers who could be secretly fanning and financing the tension in Bawku, thus, making the situation intractable for their interest, should remember that the cubs they are inciting to cause mayhem today, would someday grow up to devour their household, when there is no prey from the enemies’ camp.

To our siblings in Bawku, we invite you to see eye-to-eye with one another by waving the olive branch for the sake of development. Stop trading your peaceful co-existence which had bonded you until these few weeks.

Residents of Bawku must bear in mind that there is no substitute for peace, which has kept all of us together in Ghana.

Bawku needs the peace to enable its people to happily converge at their local pito joints to share calabashes of the tasty local drink, meet on market days to do brisk business and gather at the usual public event ground to watch and enjoy their favourite local sports and festivals.

There is no substitute for peace, therefore, surrender your arms to guard your enviable history.

Traders in Sunyani owe Assembly over GH¢800k in rent

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, Ansu Kumi, has threatened to eject defaulting traders

The Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. John Ansu Kumi, has ordered some 800 traders occupying the Assembly’s market stores to pay their rents or face forceful ejection.

He was worried that for some period now, the traders have defaulted in rent payments accumulating up to more than GH¢800,000.

According to the MCE, the traders had failed to pay the GH¢20 monthly rent charge despite consistent reminders and notices, saying the Assembly was left with no option than to eject the defaulters.

Addressing the First Ordinary Meeting of the Third Session of the Seventh Assembly held in Sunyani, Mr. Kumi said that though many of the traders had rented out the stores to others at GH¢1,500, they were still reluctant to pay the GH¢20 monthly rent fee.

The meeting discussed strategies to improve the Assembly’s Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to push the development of the municipality forward.

“We are going to use all legal means to collect all outstanding rent and charges, so that the Assembly can mobilise the needed resources for development,” Mr. Kumi said.

WEEKEND AND NIGHT MARKETS

Mr. Kumi said that have gradually become common in the Sunyani Business District, saying the Assembly would also intensify its revenue mobilization drive as well.

“Management of the Assembly has also constituted weekend and night revenue collectors to collect revenue,” he said, and advised traders to pay their taxes.

SANITATION

Mr. Kumi said the Assembly has initiated a “pay as you dump” policy and placed refuse containers at some neighbourhoods to generate revenue from household waste disposal.

He said a sanitation task force committee would soon be constituted to check indiscriminate disposal of solid and liquid waste, which is dirtying and worsening the sanitation situation in the municipality.

SECURITY

Mr. Ansu Kumi commended the police and other security agencies for their hard work in crime prevention, saying, the security situation in the municipality has improved.

He gave an assurance that the Assembly would continue to support the police in maintaining law and order.

Techiman Traditional Council bans use of tricycles

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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Tricycles have been banned in Techiman

The chiefs and elders of the Techiman Traditional Council, together with the police, have banned the use of tricycles in the area beyond 10 pm. This is part of measures put in place to fight crime which is on the high in the area, as available statistics indicate.

Speaking in an interview, the Registrar for the Techiman Traditional Council, Mr. Evans Eagan, said the move would help minimize the crime rate across the municipality, especially at night.

“In one of our security meetings, it came to light that there has been an increase in pragia theft, and people who patronise pragia are mostly being attacked while onboard this tricycle. In order to curb this menace in the Techiman Traditional Area, Nananom decided that we should restrict their operations. The standing committee which is the highest decision-making body of the Traditional Council decided that the pragia will not be made to operate after 10 pm,” he explained.

Mr. Eagan indicated that the focus of the ban was to protect the riders who are constantly being under attack by criminals and the passengers. He, therefore, urged all stakeholders to comply with the directive.

Meanwhile, some riders have complained bitterly about how the new directive was going to affect their business, as they usually make enough cash working at night.

Bono Minister inaugurates standard market facility in Berekum

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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Daasebre Dr. Amankona Diawuo II, Paramount Chief of Berekum assisting the Bono regional minister to open the market

The Bono Regional Minister, Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, has inaugurated a standard market facility in the Berekum Municipality, constructed under the first phase of the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme (GSCSP) of the World Bank.

The GH¢7,524,001.59 facility has seven number 20 unit stalls, a crèche, police post, passenger waiting area, toll booth, ticketing room, pavements, a bus terminal and sheds, as well as street lights fitted with 150 watts LED lamps.

The market also has 60 lockable stores, health and fire posts, 10-seater water closet toilets, urinals, and the surfacing of a 1.35-kilometre access road.

The Regional Minister said the market would enhance economic activities in the area and tasked the Municipal Assembly to take advantage and increase its revenue generation.

She asked the assembly to collaborate with the Berekum Traditional Council and ensure proper maintenance of the facility.

The Paramount Chief of Berekum, Daasebre Dr. Amankona Diawuo II, commended the government for the project, and expressed the hope that the facility would spur the rapid socio-economic growth and development of the municipality.

The Regional Minister later broke ground for work to begin on the second phase of the GSCSP project in the municipality.

Works on the second phase of the project costing GH¢6,856,904.53 consists of the construction of a 745-metre British Inn Junction road, and the installation of street and traffic lights.

Other components include the construction of two-story 40-unit lockable stores, banking hall, and offices, as well as another two-story 48-unit lockable store.

Be focused and reset roles in your ward’s education -Regional Minister

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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Madam Owusu Banahene engages school children

In recent times, there appears to be a shift in roles and responsibilities from parents to teachers, where the burden of educating children is left at the doorstep of teachers and managers of education.

According to the Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu Banahene, the role of parents and guardians in the character moulding of their children and wards has been relegated to the background.

“This role has been largely abandoned for the classroom teacher, who is entrusted with the additional burden of character moulding of all children he or she engages,” the Regional Minister observed during the launch of the 2022 Ark FM/Cowbell Brain Challenge.

“It is, therefore, important that the focus of parents is reset to this fundamental obligation,” she pointed out.

Madam Owusu Banahene, a teacher by profession, stressed the importance of instilling seeds of leadership at a younger age to offer children the opportunity to build a strong foundation.

According to her, research showed that leadership does not start in the classroom, but also begins when children are taken through physical activities.

Madam Owusu Banahene noted that it was noteworthy to declare the government’s appreciation for the role institutions and organisations play to complement the Education Ministry and Ghana Education Service (GES).

Frank Duodu appointed new Ashanti Regional NADMO boss

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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Frank Kwadwo Duodu – Ashanti NADMO boss

Mr. Frank Kwadwo Duodu, an assistant Chief Disaster Control Officer, has been appointed the Ashanti Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO). A letter dated April 26, 2022 from the Office of the President, and signed by the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, indicated that the President had approved the nomination of Frank Kwadwo Duodu in that capacity.

It further directed the Director-General of NADMO to take the necessary steps to regularise the nomination of Mr. Duodu in accordance with the relevant law. Until his new appointment, Mr. Duodu had been the Metropolitan NDAMO Director at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) since 2018.

He is a management member of the KMA, as well as the Member of the Metropolitan Security Council (METSEC) and the Member of the Physical Planning Committee (Town Planning).

Mr. Duodu also serves as a member of the Justice and Security, Environmental and Works Sub-Committees of the KMA.

Mr. Duodu, 52, who is an Associate Member of the institute of Professional Financial Manager (UK), has a wide experience in research and leadership. He holds a Master of Science in marketing and e-commerce from the Lulea University of Technology in Sweden (2009 and 2011) having obtained his Bachelors in Business Administration (Accounting Option)

from the Christian Service University College in Kumasi (2005 to2008).

The new Regional NADMO director, studied General Arts at Premier College in Kumasi in 1976 before pursuing Diploma in Business studies (DBS), Accounting Option. Mr. Frank Duodu, replaces Mr. Kwabena Nsenkyire, the former Regional NADMO Coordinator, who is on retirement.

ECG, NEDCo defend proposed 148%, 113% increases in distribution service charges

By
INUSAH MUSAH
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Mr. Keli Gadzekpo, Board Chairman, Electricity Company of Ghana

Power utility companies in the country have proposed a huge jump in their distribution service charge for consideration by the country’s utility regulator, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), which is responsible for power distribution in southern Ghana, has proposed 148 per cent for its Distribution Service Charge 1, and 28 per cent for Distribution Service Charge 2, while the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), which is responsible for Bono and Northern Ghana, has proposed 113.4 per cent for Distribution Service Charge for the year 2022.

The ECG also proposed an average increase of 7.6 per cent in Distribution Service Charge (DSC) over the next four years. Both utility service providers defended that the inadequate approved tariffs, mainly the Distribution Service Charge, have made it difficult for them to survive the numerous challenges, including unstable macro-economic variables such as inflation and exchange rates; increase in the world market prices of distribution inputs; increased cost of operations due to rapid customer growth, and high cost of power procurement.

“The investment plan from 2022 to 2026, and the ongoing projects have been factored in this proposal. This is based on the selection of committed and feasible projects to be implemented within the tariff period. The total cost of all three categories of investment is US$1.51 billion.

“Out of the total planned investment cost of US$959.85 million, the amount incorporated in this tariff proposal is USD839.09 million. This excludes the cost of electricity access projects

(US$33.5m) and 10% contingency (87.26m),” ECG explained.

While ECG is justifying its proposed increase in Distribution Service Charges based on planned projects for network expansion, loss reduction, improvement in operational efficiency (including revenue mobilisation) and system reliability for the next five years costing US$1.51 billion, NEDCo, on the other hand, said its operations are very sparse with a long distribution network with a very limited number of Special Load Tariff (SLP) customers (0.01%).

According to NEDCo, the quality of customers within its jurisdiction does not provide NEDCo with the needed revenue to cover at least its fixed and direct variable costs.

It added the procurement of Capital Expenditure items for distribution network expansion, consumer connections, meters and information technology infrastructure is mostly denominated in forex.

The power distributor said the variable cost per unit in 2022 is expected to be GHp49.14 and the fixed cost per unit for the same period is also projected to be GHp18.03, totalling GHp67.17.

“To enable NEDCo to recover, at least, its cost of service and fixed cost, NEDCo proposes GHp67.1650/kWh for Distribution Service Charge for the year 2022, representing 113.0% of the prevailing distribution service charge,” it said.

NEDCo planned projects for the next five years, spanning 2022 to 2027, will cost about US$183.33 million. To be able to surmount the challenges facing NEDCo, it said various projects have been planned for future implementation when money becomes available.

Among some of the projects is the Tamale Metropolitan Area Split Smart Pre-Payment Meters project (costing US$26.131m), Procurement of Distribution Materials (costing US$1.438m), Construction of Lamashegu Primary Substation (costing US$9m), 100km conductor upgrade (US$1.287m), Streetlights Metering Project (US$25m) and the Kexim Project (US$112.6m).

AFDB falls on Akufo-Addo’s succor 

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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The African Development Headquaters in Abidjan

The African Development Bank (AFDB) is seeking the support of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in its quest to leverage more resources for the African continent.

The bank said it intends to make a case at this year’s annual meeting to be allowed to use its equity to go to the market for more resources for the continent, a move that needs the contribution and support of President Akufo-Addo.

The President of the Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said this yesterday when he visited Jubilee House to invite President Akufo-Addo to the annual meeting to be held in Accra from May 23 to May 27, 2022.

In his address, Dr Adesina appreciated the decision of Ghana to host the meeting, which hitherto occurred in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

He said that several African leaders have been invited, including President of Senegal, Macky Sall, President Muhammudu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Alassane Quattara of Côte d’Ivoire, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya. The Prime Minister for Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley has also been invited.

Dr Adesina appealed to President Akufo-Addo to urgently send personal invites to his colleague Heads of State to secure their acceptance to attend the meeting.

Explaining the positive impact of hosting the meeting in Ghana, Dr Adesina said “The African Heads of State will be here to see first-hand the great progress Ghana has made. They will ride over the AFDB financed $48m 4-tier Interchange at Pokuase, the first of its kind in West Africa and the second in sub-Saharan Africa.”

He continued that, “They will get to see the AFDB extension of the Kotoka International Airport Terminal 3, which has helped to expand passenger and cargo traffic to Ghana. They will get to hear about the great efforts that you and your government are making to develop the agriculture sector with the $72m AFDB financed Savanna development program…and Mr President, they will be very happy to hear and learn about the Year of Return that Ghana under your leadership has put in place. The world will hear again about Ghana Beyond Aid and Africa Beyond Aid.”

In his response, President Akufo-Addo noted that the presence of the African leaders to the meeting would create an opportunity to make a good case about the need to mobilise more resources for the AFDB. “At the heart of the matter; that’s for me, the most critical issue,” he added.

According to President Akufo-Addo, it was not comfortable for the World Bank to be leading financing in Africa, a narrative he wants changed. To him, the AFDB should rather lead in the financing and the World Bank supports, “and not the other way round.”

However, he believes that achieving that goal required focus on how best the capital base of AFDB could be expanded.

“So, having these African leaders here to be able to make this clarion call, I think it will be a very important development for all of us,” he remarked.

President Akufo-Addo expressed the appreciation of Ghana to the bank for their support and pleaded that the relationship between the bank and Ghana should continue.

He commended Dr Adesina for the significant changes he had brought to the bank since he took over and encouraging him by saying “more grease to your elbow.”

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