Attempts to neglect the private sector in the commencement of dividend lottery in Ghana will affect local capacity for job creation and impact on revenue generation to support district assemblies and national development.
Mr Seth Amoani, Secretary of Members of Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA),made the observation at a press conference in Accra on Thursday. He said: "Much as the National Lottery Authority (NLA) may desire to maintain its
monopoly over dividend lottery in Ghana, government must carefully consider the anticipated
benefits as against NLA's performance so far and check records to decide whether private sector participation cannot improve national revenue mobilisation." Mr Amoani called on government to re-integrate GLOA into the lottery business
by amending the National Lottery Act (Act 722).
He also appealed to the authorities to establish an independent body to regulate lottery operators since the current "regulator-operator monopoly benefited a small group of people."
Mr Amoani expressed disappointment at government's decision to throw GLOA members out of job despite its promise to include them in the country's lottery business.
He that noted during the inauguration of a seven-member Board of Directors of NLA recently, government was mute over their operations but called for the introduction of dividend lottery and to speed up NLA automation processes by the first quarter of 2010.
Mr Amoani said that in the past months, the association together with government as well as other relevant agencies had been finding out best modalities in ensuring that the private sector did not lose its stake in the lottery business.
He said members of GLOA were currently waiting for the outcome of a case at the Supreme Court.
The association of 19 members, included Dan Multi-Purpose Limited, Stephen Asare Trading Enterprise, Obiri Asare and Sons Limited, Golden Souvenir Limited, Star Lotto Limited, Lotto Gold and Rambel Enterprises Limited.