Shake Up To Hit National Lotteries

..Four Directors to Go

…State losses Billions on lotto war

Credible information available to The Lead indicates that the National Lottery Authority (NLA) has in recent times been witnessing rough developments over the autocratic management style adopted by the Kojo Andah-led administration.

The Lead has learnt that, the administration has saddled the authority with debts unprecedented in the history of the NLA. As a result of this development coupled with the growing disenchantment among the workforce, the government through its agencies is preparing to cause a shake-up at the NLA.

The casualties of the NLA shake- up would include its four top Directors, Kojo Andah, Director General, Kwame George Addo Yobo, Director of Operation, one Dzikunu, Director in charge of Finance and Administration and George Gyamfi – Osew, Director in –charge of Sales.

The afore-mentioned, this paper gathered would be asked by the government to proceed on leave to pave way for investigations into some happenings at the place.

Among others, this paper can reveal that the seat of government, is currently investigating a myriad of allegations leveled against the current administration by the National Lotto Receivers Union (NLRU), Association of National Lotto Marketing Companies (NLMCs) and the staff of the Authority.

Some of the allegations leveled against the Andah-led administration range from alleged corruption to the adoption of what can be termed as the kangaroo type of administration.

The staff is questioning the rationale behind the draw allowance of GH¢150 paid to the four Directors each time there was a draw when in fact, they play no role or offer any assistance during draws, while those who actually do the work, go home empty-handed.

It is also alleged that, the Director General and his colleague Board members receive Eight hundred (GH¢800.00) Ghana Cedis each as sitting allowance, and the information says, they meet once every week and sometimes twice.

It is also alleged that, the board has been meeting at Holiday Inn hotel near the Airport instead of the conference room at the NLA and as a result, are spending huge sums of money for services provided by the Hotel.

Also, the allegation is that, the NLA has not been able to pay accumulated winning prizes of GH¢13 million since October 2010.

Rather unprecedented, The Lead has learnt that, claims submitted by winners are given post dated cheques of one and half months, but some stakeholders believe that the lottery game is like rain-fed agriculture where the more people win and are paid, the more they stake. So, if people win and they are not paid, they lose interest in the game and eventually boycott it.

Speaking to The Lead on the NLA brouhaha, Mr. Seth Amoani, Secretary to Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) said, the current happenings should have taken place long ago and that, the previous management was relieved of its post by the former political regime and so did not understand why the NDC government allowed the Andah-led management to continue in office.

He said this and other reasons account for the wrong things going on at the National Lottery Authority. Mr. Amoani said, the board chairman, Mr. Alonzo, has failed to implement government policies and directives, which is what has culminated in the current indebtedness situation of the Authority.