Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called on private lotto operators in the country to extend their sponsorship of good causes to include entrepreneurship in developing the private sectors.
Other areas the ex-President mentioned were mentorship programmes, scientific and technological programmes and many more.
He made this call at the official launch of Game Park Limited in Accra on Tuesday, saying, lottery had become recognised as a major sponsor of good causes, particularly, in the fields of health, arts, sports, heritage and education.
He said: “It is worthy to note that, the National Lottery Authority has been generating revenues for national development over the past years. Remarkably, the Authority has not allowed itself to be tempted to monopolise the lottery space, but has rather opened it up to private companies on competitive basis, an initiative that has welcomed Game Park Limited on board to introduce various games for the Ghanaian public.”
Speaking at the launch, Ms Bibi Bright, Executive Director of Game Park Limited, indicated that, Game Park Limited would provide Ghanaians with exciting new games that had odds, easy to play, easier to win, and offer more “like our trusted partner with a track record,” she added.
She remarked that, the company was wholly Ghanaian owned, and licensed by the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to operate lottery as a Third Party Collaborator, which draws its experience from its Technical Service Provider, Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), the premier gaming and entertainment provider in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
She noted that, they were introducing the Pick 4 and Pick 1 Game, where Pick 4 is picking four balls out of 40, while Pick 1 is picking 1 out of 36.
The Omanhene of New Juabene Traditional Area, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III, in his remarks, encouraged Game Park Limited to invest in the Ghanaian culture, as part of its corporate social responsibility.
He said: “Supporting our culture will preserve the history we are most proud of and, in turn, promote tourism, cultural and historical interpretation and entrepreneurship for our indigenes.”
“As was espoused by the regulator, do ensure that you always exude the practices of responsible gaming, being mindful of your players to whom you are most accountable,” the Omanhene added.
The Director General of the NLA, Mr. Sammi Awuku, in his speech, mentioned that, as a Regulator, they offer an even playing field, and believe that, as a third party collaborator, their new Pick 4 game, would inject some excitement into the Ghanaian lottery space.
He, therefore, urged and encouraged Game Pack Limited to operate with the highest sense of integrity, “ensuring that your players are always giving the authentic results; this cannot be compromised; I also encourage you to give back to its patrons through the good causes, which will endear you to the public,” he added.
The Executive Chairperson of Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) Group, Mr. Gary Peart, in his speech, remarked that, the launch of Game Park Limited, a new lottery company on the Ghanaian landscape, represents a partnership between Jamaica and Ghana that holds so much more than economic and commercial significance.
“As the leading lottery and gaming company in the Caribbean, SVL is excited to take our expertise to another new market. And we’re especially excited that this new market is Ghana. In our two decades of operations, we have been very serious about expansion and developing a world-class product,” he added.
