More than 1,000 members of Brong-Ahafo Lotto Receivers’ Union have staged a peaceful
demonstration in Sunyani against the National Lottery Authority’s (NLA)proposed decision to reduce each member’s lotto sales commission from 25 percent to 20 percent effective February 01.
The three-hour demonstration, led by the regional chairman of the union, Mr. Benjamin Kwabena Amoako and other executives, was accompanied by brass band music.
The demonstrators started from the Post Office Square and marched through the principal streets of the regional capital and ended at the Union’s office where they presented a resolution to the Regional Manager of the NLA, Mr. Modestus Nakaar.
The demonstrators carried placards some of which read, “Remember there is no pension scheme in Lotto Business”, “NLA Board have you reduced the size of your
Allowances?”, “Don’t we deserve single spine?”, “We contribute to the national economy”, “Please hear our cry –Mr. President”, “NLA do away with unapproved lotto machines”, “Monkey dey work, Baboon dey chop”, among others.
In their six-point resolution signed by Mr Amoako and Mr Alex Akuffo, secretary, the union complained about the short dates given to receivers to collect their commission cheques,
saying it was a bother to lotto receivers who pre-financed the sale of tickets and coupons by raising loans that should be paid back promptly.
The practice whereby broken down lotto receivers’machines were sent to Sunyani for repairs for servicing instead of to service centres being set up in the various districts was not auguring well for members, it said.
The members stated they had over the years assisted the NLA in the region and for that matter the country, to mobilize substantial revenue to support the economic activities of the central government hence they should be treated honourably.
Mr. Amoako told journalists would not back go to work unless the Authority rescinded its decision to reduce their commission from 25 percent to 20 percent.
Mr. Nakaar promised to forward the petition to the national headquarters and expressed the hope something good might come out of it.