The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has urged the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to work to sanitise the lottery and betting space in the country. He also wants the regulator to implement strict policies on responsible gaming, to prevent minus and under-age persons from patronising the games.
“I urge you also to implement stringent policies on responsible gaming, chiefly, to prevent minus and under-age persons from patronising your games and to help sanitize the lottery and betting space.”
President Akufo-Addo was speaking at the 60th Anniversary celebration of NLA, held last Friday, at the Headquarters, in Accra.
According to the president, the Ghanaian people are expectant of reforms that will help the company live up to its vision of becoming the organisation of choice and blueprint print for lottery in Africa.
RESPONSIBLE GAMING
He charged the Board of Directors and the Management of NLA to ensure responsible gaming in the country.
President Akufo-Addo was particular about the NLA being transparent with all Ghanaians who patronise their games and services.
As a revenue, generating institution, President Akufo-Addo, said the NLA has a responsibility to continue to exercise the highest form of transparency and integrity in the conduct of its draws if the organization is to continue to enjoy the confidence the Ghanaian people have reposed in them.
“As an institution tasked with revenue generation, I will implore you to ensure that you exercise the highest form of transparency and integrity in the conduct of your draws to uphold the confidence that the public continues to have in you.
“The onus to achieve this does not only lie in your ability to generate revenue for the government and give back to society but more importantly, in ensuring that the Ghanaians who play your lottery games receive a true reflection of the daily results published,” Akufo-Addo added.
“Giving back to society through your Good Causes Foundation complements the efforts of government in the development of our country and it is worthy of emulation by others,” President Akufo-Addo said.
ILLEGAL LOTTERY
President of the World Lottery Association (WLA), Rebecca Paul, who traveled to Ghana to support the 60th Anniversary celebration of the NLA, had earlier paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House.
In her remarks, she stated that WLA was ready to support all the efforts Ghana is currently making to stop illegal gaming activities in the country.
According to Madam Paul, the WLA has two dominant objectives and they are giving back to good courses in the countries where they have representation by way of membership and fighting all forms of illegal gaming and lottery activities.
“Part of what the World Lottery Association does is to help set up standards that our members meet and certainly, one of the most important is the corporate social responsibility (CSR) standards which you (Ghana) are applying for and working towards.
“One of the things that are most threatening to lottery that gives back to good courses are those illegal folks who do nothing. They don’t pay any taxes, they don’t give any money to good causes and they don’t follow the same rules and standards that those of us who are government-sanctioned follow,” the WLA President, Rebecca Paul said.
“We are working with all the lotteries across Africa, [including Ghana] on those two initiatives [CSR and responsible gaming] which are two of our most important and we are just elated to be here in Ghana” the WLA president added.
RENEWED COMMITMENT
The Board Chairman of NLA, His Eminence, Torgbui Francis Nnonyo, in his address welcomed the charge of the President and indicated that the NLA will work hard to be a leader in the sub-region.
“The Board of NLA, together with Management will ensure the growth of this organization, and we are even more determined to ensure that NLA’s flag flies high among its peers and lives up to its vision to become the organisation of choice on the African continent.”
The Director-General of NLA, Mr. Samuel Awuku, said the Authority was more resolute than ever to take up the challenges that lie ahead.
“We are excited about this new phase and of what the future holds as we forge ahead in our journey. We believe there will be bigger hurdles to cross and while we acknowledge the work that lies ahead, we remain resolute with a renewed commitment to do much better for our cherished patrons,” Sammy Awuku stated.
He also commended the Management, Staff, and other stakeholders for contributing to the success story of NLA.
Earlier that Friday, the President of the World Lottery Association, Rebecca Paul and the DG, Sammy Awuku, paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo at Jubilee House.
