Ghana NLA trains retailers as lottery moves to 5,000 digital terminals

Ghana's National Lottery Authority (NLA) held a practical training session for new retailers at its NLA Training School on 29 September 2026, covering operation of the Android point-of-sale terminals it has introduced. The session addressed hands-on terminal use, transaction workflows and customer service, according to the authority. The training follows earlier capacity-building sessions for NLA staff and regional sales managers, which covered monitoring transactions, managing device functionality and overseeing real-time operations.

The terminal programme is run in partnership with Fidelity Bank Ghana and replaces 2G paper-based machines with 5,000 Android POS terminals across the country. The instant-prize payout limit at POS terminals has risen from GH¢1,200 to GH¢30,000, approximately $2,100 or €2,280. For prizes above GH¢30,000, Fidelity Bank has introduced a discounting arrangement under which eligible winners can be paid immediately by the bank, with the NLA repaying the amount over an agreed period.

On 17 September 2026, a live digital terminal produced the NLA's first win, and the prize went to the winner straight away. Under a deadline of 1 October 2026, private lotto operators, agents and writers were told to leave manual, paper-based operations behind and adopt digital systems. The authority says swapping out obsolete 2G hardware and paper receipts should curb illegal operations, make transactions more transparent and grow its licensed retail network.

According to the authority, total deposits are expected to grow tenfold within three years as a result of the partnership. The resulting state revenue would fund national development work in education, healthcare and infrastructure.