Sanity and Effective Regulation: Gary Nimako Marfo on his legacy as NLA Board chairman

Gary Nimako Marfo, the Board Chairman of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), has been discussing his tenure at the nation’s premier gaming regulatory body. He is firm in his belief that his era will forever be remembered as the one that introduced sanity and effective regulation into Ghana’s lottery industry.

Appointed in March 2024, Gary Nimako’s tenure as NLA chair has seen him work productively with the Director-General, Sammi Awuku, to introduce reforms aimed at ridding the lottery industry of numerous illegal operations that existed prior to his appointment.

Following this drive by the board chairman to bring sanity into the lotto industry in Ghana, 24 lotto companies have been licensed by the NLA board to operate lotto businesses.

Speaking to NLA magazine about what he believes will be his legacy as the board chair of the NLA, the astute legal practitioner surmised that measures have been put in place to improve the NLA’s licensing regime and ensure effective regulation.

He explained that the NLA, under his chairmanship, has been able to draw a number of private lotto operators under their umbrella to ensure that they comply with industry rules and contribute revenue to the government.

“As Board Chair of the NLA, I want to leave the place with a legacy: that I instituted sanity and regulation into the lottery space. My board has worked hard to bring the private sector close to the NLA and brought some sanity to the lottery industry.

“These are things that I believe will benefit the next NLA board and management because what we have done is to put the NLA on the path of success where it discharges its duties without fault and also raises revenues for the country,” he said.

Gary Nimako Marfo also opened up about how he juggles his duties as board chair, legal director of the New Patriotic Party, and a private legal practitioner.

“I have an inbuilt personal drive. I make sure that whatever I do, I achieve results. I don't set out to do something and fail. I wake up at 4:00 a.m. and have my tea; then, at 4:30 a.m., I head to the gym. After that, I go swimming if the weather is good, and by 5:30 a.m., I set off for work. In 15 minutes, I'm at my desk, and people walk in and wonder how that is because I close at 10:00 p.m.

“I am the board chairman of NLA, and I also sit here as a private legal practitioner. I have to read and prepare my files a day before, go over them again in the morning, and make sure I have all the authorities and principles right and on top of my files before heading to court at 9:00 a.m.

“I’m also the director of legal for the New Patriotic Party. Party matters are waiting for me at the office, and I have to attend meetings. Sometimes, 24 hours is not enough for me, but you see, in this life, you do what you can do, and when your time is up, you go, but when you have life, make sure to do what you have to do,” he said.

Gary Nimako also shared some nuggets of wisdom with the youth, placing emphasis on discipline as the hallmark of success.

“You have to be disciplined in life, and without discipline, you can't achieve anything. As a lawyer, people have entrusted their lives into your hands, and somebody's case is their life. It could either be a life-and-death matter, a commercial claim, a marital claim, or any other case,” he said.

EK