Ghana NLA proposes reforms tied to GH¢2bn annual lottery revenue projection

Ghana's lottery industry could bring in over GH¢2 billion (US$172 million) yearly, according to NLA Director-General Mohammed Abdul-Salam, provided President John Dramani Mahama's proposed reforms are completely implemented.

The platform under proposal would let the authority directly see data on sales, winnings and payments for services in all licensed operations. The monitoring system being proposed would reach channels such as POS terminals, internet platforms and USSD. Abdul-Salam said the authority had approached the Ministry of Finance for permission to commit to a revenue assurance system that would end paper-based lottery sales.

On October 2, the NLA handed the Ministry of Finance a dividend of GH¢10 million (US$860,000) for the Consolidated Fund. Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson disclosed that the government is cooperating with the authority and the Attorney-General to examine agreements that affect its revenue position, following the NLA's GH¢10 million dividend.

Abdul-Salam said the approach would change the NLA's control over private operators, and that the authority would be able to see their figures before they submit statements. He said: "We would see how much sales you have made, how much in winnings you have paid and how much you have paid for services, and what the 20 per cent share to the NLA should be". Abdul-Salam also stressed the importance of independent revenue assurance for strengthening the authority's regulatory oversight. He added: "we would have programmed punitive measures if you were to report false data."