Concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana (CLAAG) has cautioned the government and the National Lottery Authority to desist from intimidating Private Lotto Operators.
In a press Statement forwarded exclusively to Hotfmghana.com, the executive Secretary of the Concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana, Kwaku Duah-Tawiah indicated that :
“We earlier had the occasion to complain about monies extorted from private Lotto Operators by the former Director General ,albeit huge sums of money as registration fee for registering Private Lotto Operators to operate but to-date it had not happened and the monies had not been refunded and the monies not accounted for, we learnt that about seven lotto operators have been issued with license.
We dare say that there is growing perception out there that certain Private Lotto Operators are intimidated and harassed ,this is because several statements have been issued from the Public Relations Department of NLA threatening some private Lotto operators ,we shall however not sit down for these things to happen under our watch”.
He continued,” We are aware that the New Patriotic Party anytime they come to power tries as much as they can to bring down Private Lotto Operators.We are going to start a massive campaign against them throughout the country if they don’t stop this.
We have said it times and again and want to reiterate it here that the Private Lotto Operators have a total membership of about two million people and if the right things are done, the government may find a fertile source of income and also promote employment.”
Mr Kwaku stressed extensively that,” We shall however oppose vehemently and fiercely resist any attempt by the New Patriotic Party and the government to intimidate or harass any Private Lotto Operators without any just cause. We shall mobilise our members and use our strength to rally behind any such Private Lotto operator who may be targeted in the lotto industry.
He called on the government to heed to their call on the basis of cooperation and justice for all.
Read the full statement below.
We the concerned Lotto Agents Of Ghana calling for a stakeholders meeting for due consultation and brainstorming before appointing a new director General and other Board Members of the National Lottery Authority.
We have had the opportunity to raise the issue of the regulatory role of the NLA and its dual role of also being an operator thereby making the authority a referee and player at the same time. In our view ,the dual and conflicting roles of the NLA is causing a lot of problems for private lotto operators
We earlier had the occasion to complain about monies extorted from private Lotto Operators by the former Director General ,albeit huge sums of money as registration fee for registering Private Lotto Operators to operate but to-date it had not happened and the monies had not been refunded and the monies not accounted for, we learnt that about seven lotto operators have been issued with license.
We dare say that there is growing perception out there that certain Private Lotto Operators are intimidated and harassed ,this is because several statements have been issued from the Public Relations Department of NLA threatening some private Lotto operators ,we shall however not sit down for these things to happen under our watch.
We are aware that the New Patriotic Party anytime they come to power tries as much as they can to bring down Private Lotto Operators.We are going to start a massive campaign against them throughout the country if they don’t stop this.
The concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana(CLAAG) have been at peace with the government and we don’t want that peace to be threatened because of the behaviour of some government officials and statements coming from some officials of the Public Relations Department Of NLA as stated above.
In the light of this, we are calling for a stakeholder’s consultation before appointing the CEO and the Board. We have said it times and again and want to reiterate it here that the Private Lotto Operators have a total membership of about two million people and if the right things are done, the government may find a fertile source of income and also promote employment.
We shall however oppose vehemently and fiercely resist any attempt by the New Patriotic Party and the government to intimidate or harass any Private Lotto Operators without any just cause. We shall mobilise our members and use our strength to rally behind any such Private Lotto operator who may be targeted in the lotto industry.
We call on the government to head to our call on the basis of cooperation and justice for all.
Kwaku Duah-Tawiah
(Executive Secretary)
