The National Lottery Authority(NLA) announced the introduction of a new sticker system for lotto writers effective 2025, as part of efforts to curb illegal lottery operations.
However, instead of National Lottery Authority(NLA) tasking as well as collaborating with Ghana Revenue Authority(GRA), and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies(MMDAs) to collect the Lotto Sticker Fees from the lotto writers in exchange of the lotto stickers under the Sticker System across the Country, the NLA has rather illegally given the Sticker Revenue Generation contract to the Executive Secretary of the Concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana(CLAAG) in the person of Mr. Kwaku Duah-Tawiah.
Further investigation at the Office of the Registrar Companies shows that, CLAAG is a private company by guarantee made up of Mr. Kwaku Duah-Tawiah and another person. Also, through interviews with some lotto writers in Greater Accra, Eastern, Volta, Western, and Northern Regions, it was revealed that, about 99% of the lotto writers are NOT members of CLAAG.
The decision of NLA to unilaterally allow Mr. Kwaku Duah-Tawiah and CLAAG to collect Lotto Sticker Fees from lotto writers across the Country on behalf of NLA is illegal and affront to the Act 722, Ghana Revenue Act 2009, and Local Governance Act 936.
It is the responsibilty of Ghana Revenue Authority(GRA) and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies(MMDAs) to collect local taxes and fees at the local level. CLAAG, as a private association has NO LEGAL RIGHTS to collect Lotto Sticker Fees from Lotto Writers in the Kiosks on behalf of NLA. Majority of Lotto Writers are suspecting elements of corruption between NLA and CLAAG.
The Lotto Writers have No issues with the NLA Sticker System but they are ONLY willing and prepared to pay the Lotto Sticker Fees directly at the Regional/District Offices of NLA or expect NLA to partner with GRA or MMDAs to collect the Lotto Sticker Fees, not CLAAG and Kwaku Duah-Tawiah.
Lotto Writers are calling on the Ministry of Finance, Ghana Revenue Authority(GRA), EOCO, BNI, Office of Special Prosecutor(OSP), and the Ministry of Local Government to prevent NLA from using Mr. Kwaku Duah-Tawiah and CLAAG to collect Lotto Sticker Fees from Lotto Writers across the Country, and also calling for the audit of the Lotto Sticker Fees so far collected by CLAAG and Kwaku Duah-Tawiah.
