The Good Governance Advocacy Group Ghana (GGAGG) is calling on the Managing Director of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mohammed Abdul-Salam, to take urgent steps including the revocation of KGL’s license in order to save the country’s lottery supervisory body from collapse.
According to GGAGG, NLA has suffered gradual decline since the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took over the administration of the country in 2017.
Addressing the press on Wednesday, June 11, GGAGG Executive Director Listowell Nana Kusi-Poku noted that the administration of Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, between 2017 and 2021, was characterised by a series of controversial decisions, administrative lapses and governance challenges “that contributed to the erosion of the NLA’s operational efficiency, stakeholder trust, and financial stability”.
Mr Kusi-Poku said these led to significant deterioration of the working relationship between NLA and its core stakeholders.
He said by the time Mr Osei-Ameyaw was leaving office, the NLA “was grappling with serious financial, operational, and reputational challenges”.
His successor, Sammy Awuku, whom they expected to do better, rather deepened the woes of the Authority.
One of the decisions was for Mr Awuku, now Member of Parliament for Akuapim North, to further engage KGL further, GGAGG’s Executive Director alleged.
“Rather than engaging KGL lawfully through a transparent LMC framework, Sammy Awuku in violation of Act 722, granted KGL exclusive rights to operate 5/90 in the digital space.
“This is the beginning of the creation of the speical purpose vechicle for state capture.
“This decision, made in 2021, was not driven by national interest but by political state capture and private enrichment – futhering Osei Ameyaw’s already existing troubles for NLA.”
He pointed that the Authority has “massive untapped” potential with the possibility of generating GH¢6 billion annually.
The group is, therefore, calling for the revocation of the license granted KGL, compliance of Act 722, particularly Sections 2(2), 5(1) and 15, commissioning of an independent forensic audit of all contracts with KGL and the re-establishment of NLA as an autonomous body “free from private capture and political interference”.
“Failure to take these corrective actions must lead to the immediate shutdown or dissolution of the NLA, as it no longer serves its lawful purpose nor the people of Ghana.”
