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04.10.2012 Business & Finance

GLOA calls on government to redeem its promise

By GNA
GLOA calls on government to redeem its promise
04.10.2012 LISTEN

Accra, Oct. 2, GNA - The Ghana Lotto Operations Associations (GLOA) on Tuesday appealed to government to restore and include its members in the lotto industry as provided under section 2 (4) of the Lotto Act, Act 722.

GLOA also called on government to streamline and reorganize operations of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) as the regulator of all lotto operators by breaking its monopoly.

At a press conference in Accra on Monday, Mr Seth Asante Amoani, Secretary of GLOA, said a review of the Lotto Act would restore many jobs for more than 500,000 members, who had been thrown out of business.

He said GLOA was ready to work with government to register its members, ensure smooth participation in the lotto industry and to allow for auditing of and payment of appropriate taxes towards national development.

Mr Amoani said the association had employed more than 500,000 people across the country and paid more than 22.6 million Ghana cedis as tax per annum.

He said GLOA would ensure that lotto writers pay annual registration fees of GH¢ 100 cedis, which would amount to more than GH 5million cedis as revenue to government.

Mr Amoani said 2012 Elections should be about the improvement of livelihood and creation of jobs, and asked the government to redeem the promise of the late President John Evans Atta Mills to facilitate the restoration of private lotto participation, on February 17, 2009.

“GLOA does not wish to drive its activities underground, but wishes to work with government within a legal framework to contribute its quota to the development of Ghana,” Mr Amoani stressed.

He said GLOA called on government to change the trend of injustices and abuses perpetrated against private Ghanaian business, through the arbitrary use of legislation and state institutions by past governments.

“GLOA admonish the NDC government not to behave like the ostrich to lose the 2012 elections as the NPP did when warned about the repercussions of passing Act 722,” Mr Amoani said.

GNA

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