CLAAG threatens massive demonstration over alleged mismanagement at NLA

Concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana has threatened to stage a demonstration to register their displeasure against alleged mismanagement happening at the NLA.

According to a statement signed by the association's chairman the group is aggrieved and calling for government immediate intervention

"We are angered by the NLA's decision to demand a whooping 1 million Ghana cedis from private lotto operators as registration fees' the statement read

The group also raised concerns about the dealings of the NLA and asked for an investigations into their activities

"We sincerely believe that, the NLA if not checked will earn the government a bad image" the statement cautioned

Read full statement below

BY CONCERNED LOTTO AGENTS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (CLAAG)

We the concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana are planning to shake the country with massive demonstration in all the regions as we have said before.

It is with deep regret that we have arrived at the decision, because we thing that is the only way to get government to put a searchlight on the National Lotto Authority (NLA) and its current mismanagement and poor leadership.

Firstly we are angered by the decision of the NLA to demand a whooping sum of One Million Ghana Cedis from private lotto operators as registration and licensing fees in a so called Banker to Banker regularization. Most of these operators have indeed paid the said fees since April 2018 and are yet to be licensed. All attempts to get NLA to act as promised has failed.

Beside, the huge sums paid, some of the operators have also been squeezed to pay exploitative fees for their agents and writers since April last year.

We sincerely believe that the NLA management if not checked and probed will earn the government a bad image given the anger and frustration of the operators, agents and writers whose livelihood is under threat.

To make matters worse the lotto operators, agents and writers who had not fully paid up were directed to pay up by 31st August 2018 or face the wrath of the NLA.

Worst of all, we understand that NLA has clandestinely twisted the hands of the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) to cancel agreements VAG had with some Lotto Operators who operated “VAG” lottery which had a legal backing to mobilize funds to support retired army men and war veterans.

The NLA has how turned round to claim ownership of the VAG Lottery and demanding the deprived Lotto operators to register with them on terms yet to be disclosed.

Our reliable source informs us that the NLA is contemplating midday draws exclusively for private lotto operators, which have never been discussed with the private lotto operators and that was also not part of the reasons for collecting monies from the private operators. The huge sums of monies were collected to allow the private operators use the products of the NLA and thus anything short of that will amount to deceit fashioned on the lines of DKM, Menzgold etc. this worrying attempt by the NLA sparks of a “419” bait.

We have shockingly been informed that NLA without recourse to National Procurement guidelines has imported into the country E-kiosks and accompanying gadgets to be sold and imposed on Lotto Operators, Agents and Writers at exorbitant prices ranging from GH¢15,000 to GH¢20,000.

With an estimated lotto sector dependants of over One Million Five Hundred people, this attempt by the NLA is to render us jobless and will further worsen the unemployment menace and wreck economic havoc in Ghana.

Why can’t we produce lotto kiosks in Ghana using our local carpenters and local materials?

We demand an immediate government enquiry into the current operations of the NLA in respect of the issues we have raised.

SIGNED: KWAKU DUAH-TAWIAH

(EXECUTIVE SECRETARY)

0506442262

18/03/2019

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