By Wilberforce Asare

Copyright asaaseradio

Many people, due to their ignorance of the lottery industry, have suggested that NLA should instead operate its own NLA 5/90 USSD and online lottery, rather than relying on third-party companies and Collaborators.

They argue that the NLA is also the only body mandated to operate a lottery under Section 4 of the National Lottery Act, 2006 (Act 722).

Respectfully, I would like to use this Article to correct the misleading accounts, misinformation, disinformation, and misinterpretation of Act 722 being championed by some media houses, such as the Fourth Estate and Mr. Sulemana Briamah, against the NLA-KGL license agreement, because they think that the NLA-KGL deal is not in the best interest of Ghana.

I will start by breaking down the practical implementation of Act 722 and the Lottery Regulations, 2008(L.I. 1948):

Powers of NLA under Act 722 and L. I. 1948

The National Lottery Authority (NLA), under the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722) and the Lottery Regulations, 2008 (L.I. 1948), has six central powers. They include:

Operational Powers
Regulatory Powers
Supervisory Powers
Management Powers
Collaboration/Partnership/Joint Venture Powers
Powers of the Board of NLA

These aforementioned powers can be seen under:

Section 4(1) of Act 722, which states that, “A person other than the Authority shall not operate any form of lottery”.
Section 35(1) of Act 722, which states that, “The Authority shall regulate, supervise, and manage National Lotto and ensure the enforcement of the laws relating to National Lotto”.

Operational Powers of NLA under Act 722 & L.I. 1948

The operational powers of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) are captured under:

(a) Section 2(2) of Act 722, which states that, “the National Lottery Authority established under Part II(see Section 34 of Act 722) shall be the institution to conduct national lotto.

(b) Section 4(1) of Act 722, which states that, “A person other than the Authority shall not operate any form of lottery”.

Operating a lottery in Ghana for the public is not the same as selling lottery products to the public or regulating and supervising the lottery by the NLA.

Section 2(2) and Section 4(1) of Act 722 are implemented by using:

(1) Section 3 of Act 722 (Time and place for conducting National Lotto).

(2) Section 23 of Act 722 (Draw of National Lotto).

(3) Section 24 of Act 722 (Supervision of draw).

(4) Regulation 1 of L.I. 1948 (Lottery Draw Committee).

(5) Regulation 21 of L. I. 1948 (Draw of national lottery).

(6) Regulation 22 of L. I. 1948 (Supervision by the Lottery Draw Committee).

Hence, the operational powers of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) under Act 722 and the Lottery Regulations, 2008 (L.I. 1948), are strictly related to the Conduct and Supervision of Lotto Draws, and they have absolutely nothing to do with the sale of lottery tickets or products.

I wish to state categorically that the argument put forward by Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate using Section 4(1) of Act 722 (Prohibition of lottery) to conclude that NLA has the sole power to sell Lotto directly to the public using the USSD and Web online instead of KGL Technology Limited is absolutely FALSE and totally misleading to the Public.

To operate lotto under Act 722 and L.I. 1948 means “to conduct and supervise lotto draws”, and it is solely the responsibility of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to conduct and supervise Lotto Draws in this country.

For the avoidance of any doubt, KGL Technology Limited has not breached the operational powers of NLA, as the company has never conducted or supervised its own Lotto Draws.

KGL Technology Limited ONLY uses the numbers drawn and supervised by the National Lottery Authority (NLA).

Regulatory Powers of NLA under Act 722 and L. I. 1948

The regulatory powers of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) involve:

Licensing of Lotto Marketing Companies and Collaborators.
Licensing of Private Lotto Operators using the Veterans Administration Ghana(VAG), Act 844.
Ensuring Compliance and Enforcement of Act 722, L. I. 1948, and Section 22 of Act 844.

The regulatory powers of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) are implemented using:

Section 5 of Act 722 (Licensing of Lotto Marketing Companies).
Section 6 of Act 722 (Application for Lotto Marketing Companies).
Section 7 of Act 722 (Grant of license and license fee)
Section 8 of Act 722 (Requirements for Lotto Marketing Companies).
Section 9 of Act 722 (Duties of Lotto Marketing Companies.
Section 10 of Act 722 (Publication of Lotto Marketing License).
Section 11 of Act 722 (Suspension or revocation of license).
Section 12 of Act 722 (Renewal of license).
Section 13 of Act 722 (Non-transferability of license).
Section 14 of Act 722 (Offences in respect of a Lotto Marketing license).
Section 18 of Act 722 (Prohibition in relation to coupons).
Section 19 of Act 722 (Offences in relation to a coupon).
Section 20 of Act 722 (Participation in National lotto and purchase of coupons).
Section 27 of Act 722 (Offences in relation to National Lotto Draw).
Section 29 of Act 722 (Foreign lottery).
Section 30 of Act 722 (Repeated Offences).
Section 31 of Act 722 (Seizure and forfeiture of objects used for or relating to Offence).
Regulation 2 of L. I. 1948 (Licensing of Lotto Marketing Companies).
Regulation 3 of L. I. 1948 (Renewal of a license).
Regulation 5 of L. I. 1948 (Grounds for suspension or revocation of a license).
Regulation 12 of L. I. 1948 (Online lottery).
Regulation 17 of. L. I. 1948 (Offences relating to sale of coupons).

KGL Technology Limited was licensed to sell NLA 5/90 lottery products via USSD and online under the regulatory powers of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), especially based on Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 13 of Act 722, as well as Regulations 12 of L.I. 1948.

Therefore, any argument put forward by the Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah against the NLA-KGL license Agreement is completely BOGUS and without any form of legal justification.

Supervisory Powers of NLA under Act 722 and L.I. 1948

The supervisory powers of the National Lottery Authority are implemented using:

Section 15 of Act 722 (Issue of Coupons).
Section 16 of Act 722 (Supply of coupons to Lotto Marketing Companies).
Section 17 of Act 722 (Validity of Coupons).
Section 21 of Act 722 (The duties of a participant in National lotto).
Section 22 of Act 722 (Acceptance of a stake).
Regulation 6 of L.I. 1948 (Prohibitions).
Regulation 7 of L.I. 1948 (Sale of lottery).
Regulation 10 of L.I. 1948 (Official closure of lottery game).
Regulation 18 of L.I. 1948 (Duties of staker).
Regulation 19 of L.I. 1948 (Acceptance of stakes).
Regulation 20 of L.I. 1948 (Deposit of counterfoil books).
Regulation 26 of L.I. 1948 (Supply of identification numbers).
Regulation 27 of L.I. 1948 (Forfeiture of security).
Regulation 30 of L.I. 1948 (Discontinuance of existing lottery and introduction of new lottery).
Regulation 31 of L.I. 1948 (Suspension of lottery activity).

It is only the Board of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) that supervises the business activities of KGL Technology Limited, and appropriately reviews the existing agreements between the Authority and KGL Technology Limited.

Therefore, the allegations made by Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate should be entirely ignored.

Mr. Sulemana Briamah and the Fourth Estate have also FAILED to establish any form of corruption or suspected corruption regarding the NLA-KGL License Agreement.

Management Powers of NLA under Act 722 and L. I. 1948

According to Section 35(2) of the National Lotto Act, 2006(Act 722), “The Authority SHALL NOT RETAIL Lotto coupons to lotto stakers”.

Clearly, Section 35(2) of Act 722 completely defeats the arguments put forward by Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate regarding the NLA-KGL deal.

How would NLA manage the NLA 5/90 USSD and Web online lottery since Section 35(2) of Act 722 doesn’t give any power to NLA to retail lottery products to the staking public?

However, the management powers of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) are implemented using:

Section 25 of Act 722 (Winnings).
Section 26 of Act 722 (Prizes).
Section 28 of Act 722 (Commission).
Section 32 of Act 722 (Lotto Account).
Section 33 of Act 722 (Deficit in Lotto Account to be a charge on Consolidated Fund).
Regulation 4 of L. I. 1948 (Security deposit for license).
Regulation 8 of L. I. 1948 (Instant lottery and scratch lottery).
Regulation 9 of L. I. 1948 (Procedures for claim of instant prizes).
Regulation 11 of L. I. 1948 (Instant ticket validation requirements).
Regulation 32 of L. I. 1948 (Prize disbursement account).

Collaboration/Partnership/Joint Venture Powers of NLA under Act 722 and L. I. 1948

The National Lottery Authority (NLA) under:

Section 2(4) of Act 722 can operate any other game of chance or enter into collaboration, partnership or joint venture with any person, society, association, or corporate entity, to operate a game of chance in accordance with existing laws but losses from the game of chance, the collaboration, partnership or joint venture shall not be compensated for by the State or from the Lotto Account provided for under section 32.

Based on the provisions under Section 2(4), there is absolutely no basis for the brouhaha coming from Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate regarding the collaboration and partnership between NLA and KGL.

Also, if, through this partnership, all the losses are borne by KGL, why must we then create the impression that KGL benefits more than the State?

Regulation 12 of L.I. 1948 states that, “the Board may authorize the Director-General to select, operate, and contract for the operation of an online lottery which shall be subject to some conditions as stated in the Lottery Regulations.

The NLA-KGL deal is strongly supported by Regulations 12, 13, and 14 of the Lottery Regulations, 2008 (L.I. 1948).

Based on the provisions captured under Regulations 12, 13, and 14 of L.I. 1948, the Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah have absolutely NO case against the NLA-KGL deal. This gives strong backing to the public perception that some faceless financiers of Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate targeted KGL.

Powers of the Board of NLA under Act 722 and L. I. 1948

The Board of National Lottery Authority (NLA) has been given the power to devise methods to help maximize the revenue generated by the Authority for the State (Section 37(d) of Act 722) in complete alignment with Section 2(1) of Act 22 which states that, “National lotto shall be conducted for the purpose of raising revenue for the nation and for other purposes stated in this Act.”

The NLA-KGL deal is, to date, the best license agreement ever issued by the Board of the National Lottery Authority (NLA).

The record speaks for itself as compared to some licenses issued to other Lotto Marketing Companies, Private Lotto Operators, and Collaborators.

Absolutely, none of the license agreements issued by the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to private companies have been able to deliver massive financial resources to the NLA, which is higher than what KGL has delivered to the NLA from 2019 to date.

I would like to boldly state that, for the first time, Sulemana Briamah and the Fourth Estate have completely and totally gotten it WRONG with their investigation regarding the NLA-KGL License Agreement.

The NLA-KGL deal is the best so far, and we must all encourage the partnership between these two entities with the patriotic aim of demanding more money for the State, as the business of KGL Technology Limited continues to expand.

We should not tolerate or encourage unnecessary commentaries against the NLA-KGL license Agreement from Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate because it seems they are doing so out of ignorance or perhaps a personal agenda borne out of bitterness, envy, and jealousy.

Wrong Interpretation of Section 2(3) of Act 722 by Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah

According to the Fourth Estate, money meant for the poor and mentally afflicted were given away to the rich, citing Section 2(3) of Act 722, which states that, “there shall be conducted as part of the operation of National Lotto, a lottery with the object of providing care and protection for the physically or mentally afflicted, needy, the aged, orphans and destitute children”.

Per Section 2(3) of Act 722, the NLA, as part of its operation (not full operations), is supposed to introduce a lottery product with the specific objective of raising revenue to provide care and protection for the physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans, and destitute children.

This does not mean that all revenues generated by NLA are meant for the physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans, and destitute children.

Since the enactment of Act 722, the NLA has NOT been able as part of its operations to conduct a lottery with the object of providing care and protection for the physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans, and destitute children as stated in Section 2(3) of Act 722.

The NLA 5/90 is NOT a lottery product conducted for the purposes of raising revenue to satisfy the provision of Section 2(3) of Act 722. If NLA wants to meet the provisions of Section 2(3), the Authority must conduct a new lottery with that specific objective; however, unfortunately, the Authority has not been able to implement Section 2(3) of Act 722.

Therefore, it doesn’t make sense for Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah to LIE to the general public that NLA revenue is strictly for providing care and protection to the poor, physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans, and destitute children.

Suppose Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah are honest and fair enough. In that case, they should create flyers to highlight all the beneficiaries of the NLA Good Causes Foundation and share these flyers with the Ghanaian people through their various social media platforms.The decision by Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate to deliberately design flyers and write stories about a select few beneficiaries of the NLA Good Causes Foundation, while excluding the rest, constitutes the highest level of unprofessionalism and unethical journalism.

It is essential to state that revenues generated by NLA are meant for the Consolidated Fund as captured under Section 32(4) of Act 722, not strictly for the physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans, and destitute children.

Additionally, the National Lottery Authority (NLA) shall meet its operational and capital expenditures from the Lotto Fund, as stated in Section 50 of Act 722.

Finally, the Facts and Data prove that NLA has NEVER generated GHS 3 billion in business in a single year in the absence of the KGL License Agreement.

It is therefore misleading to state that NLA has given away GHS 3 billion in Business to KGL because KGL itself started operations from zero; it took huge investments, IT Infrastructure development, Systems Integration, and marketing to reach where they are now, with absolutely ZERO investments and support from the National Lottery Authority (NLA).

The only thing NLA does for KGL is the issuance of a License and the conduct of Lotto Draws.

It is equally essential for the Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah to consider the 60-70% of the GHS 3 billion that goes into the payment of winners of the national lotto.

For instance, NLA used 8 years from 2013 to 2020 to generate GHS 2,766,159,507 (approximately GHS 2.7 billion), and out of this GHS 2.7 billion, the NLA used GHS 1,378,104,374 (approximately GHS 1.3 billion) to pay Winners of the National Lotto.

Also, out of that same GHS 2.7 billion, the NLA:

transferred GHS 182 009 000(GHS 180 million) to the Consolidated Fund, an amount which is far less than what KGL has paid to NLA even within 2 years of 2024-2025.
used GHS 553, 014, 988(over GHS 500 million) to pay commission to Lotto Marketing Companies.

The Lotto Marketing Companies earned more money than the Consolidated Fund and the NLA itself based on the existing revenue-sharing agreement between Lotto Marketing Companies and the National Lottery Authority (NLA).

3. used GHS 153, 302, 459(over GHS 150 million) to pay fees to the Technical Service Providers such as Lots Services Ghana Limited and Simnet Ghana Limited.

For education, it is well noted that:

(a) Lots Services Ghana Limited has 15 15-year contract with NLA, subject to renewal for another 15 years after expiration.

(b) Simnet Ghana Limited has 10 10-year contract with NLA, subject to renewal for another 10 years after expiration.

(c) NLA has also signed a 10-15-year license agreement with some Private Lotto Operators in 2024.

used the rest of the revenue for payment of GPRS Fees to Telecos, Suppliers of Thermal Paper Rolls, and Administrative & General Expenses of the Authority.

Asking for value for money should not mean that we should become mischievous and diabolical in our demands for public accountability.

Real Problems at the NLA

The real problems at NLA that Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah should take an interest in, if they are indeed serving the interest of the public and not their personal agenda, are as follows:

illegal lottery operators and agents controlling about 80% of the lottery industry across the country, who pay absolutely nothing to NLA and GRA.

Some of these illegal lottery operators have been in the industry for the past 30-40years without any records of payments to NLA and GRA.

Procurement contracts to some Technical Service Providers whereby they are freely enjoying 6% on every gross revenue generated by NLA via the Point of Sale Terminals.
Payment of 25% Commission to the Lotto Marketing Companies based on the gross revenue generated by NLA. This is particularly outrageous when compared to the operating lotteries of other countries.

I am shocked that Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate are not interested in addressing the above three real problems at the NLA, but rather wasting their energy and time on KGL, which is providing value to both the NLA and GRA concurrently.

Even if KGL ceases to run NLA 5/90 USSD and Web Online lottery right now, which section(s) of Act 722 and L.I. 1948 state that NLA, by itself, can retail 5/90 lottery via USSD and Web online lottery? Absolutely none.

The NLA would still have to rely on another Lotto Marketing company to run the NLA 5/90 USSD and Web online lottery if KGL ceases running the NLA 5/90 USSD and Web Online lottery.

So, where does this useless noise from the Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah against the NLA-KGL deal come from?

Razak Kojo Opoku(PhD)

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