NLA, VAG Seal Deal …To End Illegal Lotto Operations

The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has signed a collaboration agreement with the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) to streamline and strengthen the activities of NLA.

VAG (Act 844, 2012) gives it the authority to operate lotto business, but ceded the right to a third party, which has further given illegal lotto operators the opportunity to do the business in Ghana, to the extent that they are drawing their numbers and operating on Sundays.

Given that, the agreement is to give the NLA the mandate to fully regulate and manage the lottery business that was hitherto regulated by VAG.
The collaboration is also expected to equip the NLA to end illegal lotto operation, popularly known as ‘Banker to Banker’ in the country.

As part of the agreement, the NLA gave VAG GH¢220,000. Of the amount, GH¢120,000 would be used to support activities of VAG and the remaining channelled into VAG’s corporate social responsibility activities.
Apart from that, the NLA would on monthly basis give VAG GH¢120,000 for its activities.

The five-year renewal agreement is also to assist the veterans in the areas of health, transportation and accommodation.

At a brief ceremony in Accra to sign the agreement, Director-General of NLA, Kofi Osei Ameyaw said the agreement would make the activities of ‘banker to banker’ operators a thing of the past.

He used the occasion to announce a six-month ultimatum his outfit has given to illegal lotto operators to stop the illegal business.

Executive Director of VAG, Captain Edmund Duah indicated that the agreement signifies the dawn of a new era, which would bring about mutual benefit to both the NLA and VAG.

He commended NLA for the agreement, which seeks to bring some sanity into the lotto business.