By Ivan Amponsah
The President, Nana Akufo-Addo, says the National Lottery Authority (NLA), must demonstrate the highest form of transparency and integrity in the conduct of its draws to build public confidence in an institution tasked with revenue generation.
At the Grand Durbar to climax the Authority’s 60th Anniversary, President Akufo-Addo said the authority must have sound policies and responsible gaming to prevent minors and underage persons from partaking. He says Ghanaians expect nothing less from the NLA.
The NLA has been on a 60 Year walk in Ghana, generating revenue for national development. The idea to establish the National Lotteries Department came up in the early days of Ghana’s independence after the then Finance Minister K.A. Gbedemah travelled to Malta. While abroad, he came across a lottery and on his return informed the President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah about it.
In collaboration with the Maltese government, Ghana established the National Lotteries Department in 1962, as a revenue-generating venture for the state. Sixty years on and the National Lottery Authority is celebrating its diamond anniversary.
Sixty years ago, Dr. Nkrumah pressed the first nob for the draw. Today, the 5/90 draw by the NLA is a major vehicle for revenue generation. The President Nana Akufo-Addo, symbolically pressed the knob for the Friday Bonanza draw.
The Director General of the National Lottery Association Mr. Sammy Awuku, said the NLA is living to achieve its objective of generating revenue and supporting society.
The President of the World Lottery Association Madam Rebecca Paul, congratulated the NLA for all the success chalked up in the year. She said the lottery is a good source of revenue for transformation and development.
A Deputy Minister for Finance Minister Dr. John Kumah, said the NLA has plans to broaden its digital space to achieve more.
The President said the NLA has performed creditably over the years, but transparency and integrity is a requirements for the authority in conducting its games.
President Akufo-Addo is encouraging the authority to make society benefit from its corporate social interventions which form part of its core mandate.