The staff of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) are sounding the alarm, urging the government to intervene in what they describe as a “deliberate private capture” of the state-owned lottery business. Apexnewsgh reports
Through their union, the Financial and Business Services Employees Union (FBSEU of NLA), they have petitioned the Office of the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, as well as the newly appointed Director General of the NLA.
At the heart of the issue are questionable third-party contracts and licenses granted to Private Lotto Operators (PLOs) over the last six years. The union claims these agreements contravene the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722), and have led to financial distress and operational inefficiency within the NLA. Key companies cited in the petition include KEED Ghana Limited (KGL), Bluestar Lotto, Alpha Lotto, and Luma Technologies.
The NLA’s revenue has taken a significant hit, particularly from its Point of Sale Terminals (POSTs), since the entry of PLOs. The union estimates a staggering market share loss of nearly 50% to online platforms and PLOs, resulting in over GH₵250 million in revenue shortfalls between 2017 and 2024. This decline has had a ripple effect, triggering widespread job losses among Lotto Marketing Companies (LMCs) that traditionally supported NLA’s operations.
KGL, operators of the NLA’s 5/90 games online, is at the center of the controversy. The union accuses KGL of operating outside its defined role as a Lotto Marketing Company, including keeping lottery proceeds in private accounts, paying winnings independently, and withholding critical revenue data from the NLA. Furthermore, the union reveals that the previous NLA Board granted KGL an exclusive 25-year license to operate online lotto, a decision they deem damaging to the Authority’s independence and viability.
The union is demanding swift action from the government, including the reconstitution of a new Governing Board with individuals possessing institutional memory.
They warn that unless their demands are met, the NLA risks total collapse. In a bold statement, the union asserts that they “will stop at nothing” to ensure the sustainability of the NLA for national development and staff welfare, including staging protests or halting lotto draws if necessary [No search results were used for answering the question.
