The National Lottery Authority (NLA) under the auspices of the new Board and Management has relaunched the Caritas Lottery Platform to regulate consumer promotions and other raffle-related acts of corporate Ghana and all business.
The new resolve is expected to help boost the confidence of citizens who partake in the lottery while raising revenue to support the physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans, destitute children and other good causes.
The Authority takes inspiration from its sister bodies across the world where revenue generated from lotteries are invested in areas like Education, Sports, Health, Arts and Culture.
Chief of Staff Mrs Akosua Frema Osei-Opare who disclosed this at the relaunch and also the launch of the NLA ‘Good Causes Foundation’ on Wednesday, in Accra stated that in the United States revenue generated from lotteries in various states are allocated to scholarships, police and fire service development, prison construction, construction of parks, educational facilities and rent relief.
This practice, she said, is no different in the United Kingdom, Australia and Mauritius.
According to her, Caritas Lottery Platform was introduced into the stables of NLA in November 2012 to collaborate with Corporate Ghana and all well-meaning Ghanaian businesses and individuals that wish to use elements of Lottery or Raffle Draw in running Consumer Promotions and other activities.
“The Caritas Lottery Platform despite its introduction has not had the impact that its promulgators had in mind.
“From NLA’s assessment, this suboptimal performance is attributed to lack of attention or firmly put, the neglect of the platform over the years.
“This situation gave individuals and corporate bodies, who through no fault of theirs, the room to organize raffles, draws and lottery without reference to NLA.
The Chief of Staff noted this has necessitated the relaunch and for the NLA to revitalize its relationship with Corporate Ghana particularly in the area of raffles, draws and lottery.
According to her, to ensure effective and efficient use of revenue to be generated from the Caritas Lottery Platform, NLA is setting up its Good Causes Foundation.
“The Authority believes that in taking the path of investing in visible good causes in society, it will also help de-stigmatize lottery in the minds of average Ghanaians regarding the role lottery plays in our modern-day society,” she said.
This, she said, has become imperative especially in this pandemic period where companies and individuals seek to increase their brand awareness, sales and revenue through promotions and draws.
In his remarks, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Dame noted that the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722) provides for a system of regulation and operation of lottery in Ghana and at the heart of this is Section 2(3) that mandates the NLA, as part of its operations to conduct a lottery with the object of providing care and protection for the physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans and destitute children.
Section 2(4) of the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722), he said, also mandates the NLA to collaborate, partner or form joint ventures with any person, society, association or corporate entity to operate a game of chance in accordance with existing laws.
He disclosed that the government plans to support NLA by ensuring compliance with the regulations governing such business promotions that are rolled out onto the market by corporate Ghana from time to time.
According to him, it is only through these measures that together, the country can generate the needed revenues to help achieve the purpose for which the NLA Good Causes Foundation is being launched.
