The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has applauded the National Lottery Authority (NLA) for its sustained efforts at maintaining its institution as a national treasure over the past 60 years.
He opined that the Authority’s sense of commitment to fulfilling its obligation embedded in the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722), to take care of the needy, the aged, orphans and the destitute is remarkable and recommendable.
The President was speaking at the Grand Durbar of NLA’s 60th Anniversary Celebration when he addressed the Management, Staff, leadership, and guests from the World Lottery Association and African Lotteries Association on Friday 9 December 2022, at the forecourt of the office complex of the NLA in Accra.
The NLA has over the years, supported communities, individuals, hospitals, schools, security services, leprosaria, mental institutions, youth, and sports organizations amongst others.
They have been beneficiaries of medical aid, medical outreaches, medical equipment like incubators, toilet facilities, mechanized boreholes across the country, refurbished schools, a smart lab, recreational centers, and several donations of cash, food items, and other supplies amongst many others through its Good Causes Foundation. The Foundation operates four pillars, namely, Education, Health, Youth and Sports Development, and Arts and Culture.
“Giving back to society through your Good Causes Foundation complements the efforts of government in the development of our country and it is worthy of emulation by others,” President Akufo-Addo said.
Elaborating further on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of the NLA, President Akufo-Addo, urged the NLA to follow strictly, the high standards of the World Lottery Association (WLA) on CSR and Good Causes.
“Proceeds from lotteries the world over are known to support good causes in society. According to the World Lottery Association earnings have funded more than 1.5 million scholarships and grants.
“The WLA global data compendium has indicated that total revenues for WLA member lotteries amounted to 284 billion United States dollars in 2020, whiles in the same year, the total of funds returned to society came to 74.9 billion United States dollars” President Akufo-Addo stated.
These statistics, according to President Akufo-Addo, clearly define the focus of the global body, WLA, and that the NLA although doing well, should step up its efforts.
The President further emphasized the NLA should be up to the challenge as right here in Africa, Cote d’Ivoire has blazed the trail in line with the standards set by WLA and the NLA ought to be inspired by the Loterie Nationale de Cote d’Ivoire (LONACI) of Cote d’Ivoire.
Responsible Gaming
The President also charged the Board of Directors and the Management of NLA to ensure Responsible Gaming in the country and to endeavour to be transparent with all Ghanaians who patronize their games and services.
As a revenue, generating institution, President Akufo-Addo, says the NLA has a responsibility to continue to exercise the highest form of transparency and integrity in the conduct of its draws if the organization is to continue to enjoy the confidence the Ghanaian people have reposed in them.
“As an institution tasked with revenue generation, I will implore you to ensure that you exercise the highest form of transparency and integrity in the conduct of your draws to uphold the confidence that the public continues to have in you.
“The onus to achieve this does not only lie in your ability to generate revenue for the government and give back to society but more importantly, in ensuring that the Ghanaians who play your lottery games receive a true reflection of the daily results published” Akufo-Addo added.
Enriching lives
The NLA’s ability to ensure responsible and transparent gaming according to President Akufo-Addo is the surest way for their “promise of enriching lives through games” to hold true meaning.
“I urge you also to implement stringent policies on responsible gaming, chiefly, to prevent minus and under-age persons from patronizing your games and to help sanitize the lottery and betting space.
“The Ghanaian people are expectant of reforms that will help you live up to your vision of becoming the organization of choice and blueprint print for lottery in Africa” President Akufo-Addo admonished.
Illegal lottery
President of the World Lottery Association (WLA) Rebecca Paul, who traveled to Ghana to support the 60th-anniversary celebration of the NLA, ahead of the celebration, paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House.
In her remarks, she stated that WLA is ready to support all the efforts Ghana is currently making to stop illegal gaming activities in the country. According to Madam Paul, the WLA has two dominant objectives and they are giving back to good courses in the countries where they have representation by way of membership and fighting all forms of illegal gaming and lottery activities.