Association of Lotto Marketing Companies pledges support for NLA Boss

By Amadu Kamil Sanah, GNA
Accra, March 23, GNA - Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, the Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) has stated that his outfit would soon descend heavily on illegal lotto operators, popularly referred to as Banker to Banker.

He said their activities were depriving the state of much needed revenue for national development.

Mr Osei-Ameyaw was interacting with members of the Association of Lotto Marketing Companies (ALMC) who called on him to congratulate him on his appointment as the new NLA Director General.

He assured them of some plans in place to address their concerns and to set up a Lotto Taskforce to clamp down on Banker to Banker operations, adding that, those found flouting the law will be prosecuted in Lotto Courts established nationwide.

Mr Osei-Ameyaw said the NLA would provide the ALMCs with model kiosks which would be attractive and appealing to lotto players and also decentralise the business in all Regions and Districts.

He also assured them of addressing the issue of taxes on wins, commissions and other issues stifling their business.

The Director General promised to hold periodic meetings with the ALMC to update them on progress made by the NLA.

He thanked the ALMC for their support and promised to work with them to further develop NLA in line with the vision of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to generate revenue for the State.

Mr Dan Mensah, Chairman of the ALMC, pledged the Association's support to the Director General and assured him of their commitment to work closely with him and support his vision to promote the operations of NLA.

The Members of ALMC emphasised on the need to descend heavily on the Banker to Banker operators whose activities were not only crippling their business but, deprived the state of the revenue which should have ended up in the Consolidated Fund for national development.

"Those monies go into individual pockets as a result of the fact that Banker to Banker operators do not pay taxes on their earnings and more often than not also swindle their patrons by refusing to pay up on wins."

The Members also decried the tax on lotto wins as it dissuaded players from patronising the NLA products for Banker to Banker.

GNA