Twists and turns in Lotto operators case

An application for injunction filed by the Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) and its six members over the decision of an Accra Fast Track High Court outlawing their activities was on Wednesday brought before two different courts which gave two different adjourned dates.

While the court, presided over by Mr Justice Edward Asante adjourned to November 6, another court, presided over by Mr. Justice K.A. Ofori-Atta the hearing on November 4.

GLOA and its members had appeared before the Fast Track High Court to argue out its case before the court presided over Mr Justice Edward Asante.

When the parties, namely the National Lotto Operators (NLA) and GLOA appeared, the matter was adjourned to November 6. This was because Mr Justice Asante had embarked on vacation.

However, when the GLOA team had left, the same case had been transferred to Mr Justice Ofori-Atta.

When the case was called at that court, GLOA was therefore not present.

Mr Kizito Bayuo, who represented the NLA, told Mr Justice Ofori-Atta that due to the sensitive nature of the case, hearing should be expedited.

According to him the NLA had filed their affidavit in opposition together with the necessary documents.

The court after looking through the documents filed, fixed November 4 for ruling.

Meanwhile, Mr Aurelius Awuku, one of the lawyers who represented GLOA in the case, told journalists that they had not been served with an order transferring the case to another court.

The members of GLOA are Obiri Asare and Sons Limited, Rambel Enterprise Limited, Dan Multi Purpose Trading Enterprise, Agrop Association Limited, Star Lotto Limited and From Home Enterprise.

An affidavit filed on August 13, 2007 by Mr Seth Asante Amaoni, Secretary of GLOA, said they placed an interlocutory injunction before a High Court restraining the National Lotto Authority from interfering with their property rights or lotto operating business.

GLOA said their appeal had a great chance of succeeding given the serious errors in the ruling of the Fast Track High Court.

On August 20, 2008 the Fast Track High Court dismissed an action by the Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) challenging the constitutionality or otherwise of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) Act 2006, Act 722.

Dismissing the action, the court upheld that Act 722 of the Lotto Act was lawful.