Unlicensed Operators Heed NLA Directive

THE PEACEFUL approach chosen by the Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) in getting all unlicensed lotto operators across the country to register with the central government for the purposes of revenue mobilization for the state, is beginning to yield positive results.

Mr. Kofi Osei Ameyaw upon assumption of office has been consistently engaging lotto writers, operators, agents, among others, in an open dialogue in a move to foster collaboration between the Authority and its stakeholders.

In that regard, NLA on Tuesday, July 25, held its maiden stakeholder's forum under the leadership of Mr. Ameyaw, to solicit the views and concerns of lotto operators with the aim of helping to address the challenges adversely affecting lotto operations in the country.

As a follow-up to that meeting, the Authority on Tuesday August 15, met with unlicensed lotto operators and it emerged that about 200 of them, in Accra alone, have willingly agreed to register and get licensed by the NLA.

Mr. Ameyaw told the media on the sidelines of the meeting that the collaboration between NLA and the operators has been very successful.

According to him, the operators have all agreed to pay a fee to be set by the NLA for legal operations.

He indicated that the NLA is yet to settle on the supposed fee, but noted that it may vary from region to region and from community to community.

In regularizing the operators, he said the NLA will undertake due diligence to ensure that “criminals” were not licensed, noting that the move to license all operators shall help greatly in raising revenue for government.

BY Melvin Tarlue