The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has exposed recalcitrant members of the Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) and its allied group, the Concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana (CLAAG) for operating illegally.
According to NLA, all the licenses for members of GLOA/CLAAG signed by the former Director-General, Hon. Kofi Osei-Ameyaw were “WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL” hence decision by the board to cancel all those licenses which came to the members as a disservice hence their attacks on NLA and some of its officials.
In a Press Statement issued by the Public Relations Unit of NLA in reaction to a press conference held by members of GLOA where they launch scattering attacks on NLA and its officials, NLA indicated that the resolution of a 30-year-old impasse between Private Lotto Operators and NLA is at the brink of collapse due to reckless and irresponsible conduct of some members of Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) and its allied group known as Concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana (CLAAG).
Stating the records straight as regards claims over NLA and KGL relationship, it noted that there is no policy for KGL Technology Limited to take over from NLA.
“The Minister of Finance, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, also confirmed this during his vetting at the Appointments Committee of Parliament. It is instructive to place on record that NLA is not creating any form of monopoly for KGL Technology Limited. We, therefore, want to urge the media and the general public to totally disregard the frivolous allegations by GLOA.”
The statement explained that Keed Ghana Limited is not the same as KGL Technology Limited in terms of operations and that Keed Ghana Limited is duly licensed by the NLA to operate a dividend-based game on behalf of NLA known as Lucky 3 with an official short code of *987# whilst KGL Technology Limited is an online lotto marketing company duly licensed by the NLA to operate the 5/90 Original Lotto on behalf of the Authority with the official short of *959#.
It said the allegations by GLOA against KGL Technology Limited, Keed Ghana Limited and Mr. Alex Dadey are all “lies, frivolous and baseless.”
It also averred that KGL Technology Limited is fully legal and fully recognized by the NLA as our online lotto marketing company responsible for the operation of *959# on behalf of NLA.
“The partnership between NLA and KGL Technology Limited could be best described as a GAME CHANGER, and the partnership is a million times profitable to NLA unlike the licenses issued to members of Ghana Lotto Operators Association including Alpha Lotto Limited.”
The NLA however indicated that there are no hidden intentions, and absolutely no “take-over” schemes to surrender NLA to KGL Technology Limited, and that GLOA members are just behaving ignorantly, and “perhaps the lawyers of GLOA are advising them wrongly.”
The Authority also denied attacks on Private Lotto Operators. It maintained that it stands by every statement that has been issued by the Public Relations Unit against the illegal activities of Alpha Lotto Limited, stressing that Alpha Lotto Limited illegally was operating a Short Code as well as illegally conducting live Draws on GTV.
“The National Lottery Authority(NLA) has every power to curtail the illegal short code, and illegal Live Draws of Alpha Lotto Limited.”
The National Lottery Authority (NLA) also said, it would not hesitate to revoke the licenses of Private Lotto Operators which are not operating within the terms and conditions of their respective licenses.
Touching on the Status of KGL Technology Limited and Keed Ghana Limited Licenses, the NLA pointed out that KGL Technology Limited and Keed Ghana Limited have their respective licenses DULY APPROVED by the BOARD of NLA in accordance with the National Lotto Act 722 and Lottery Regulations, 2008(L. I. 1948).
It said the allegations Against Presidency, Appointees, Alex Dadey, Razak Kojo Opoku and Ernest Mote are all Lies and baseless.
The NLA therefore urged the media and general public to totally and wholly disregard those amateurish allegations and treat them with a pinch of salt.
By Prosper AGBENYEGA
