President Akufo-Addo has instructed the Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Kofi Osei Ameyaw to retire.

In a letter dated March 10, signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, he said the one year contract given to the former NPP MP for Asuogyaman expired on February 20, 2021.

"Upon reaching the compulsory retirement age of 60 years on February 2020, the President of the Republic, by letter dated September 3, 2020, under my hand, granted you a one-year contract of service as Director-General of the National Lottery Authority," the letter said.

It added, "The contract elapsed on February 20, 2021 and, therefore, you are retired."

The presidency further directed Mr Osei Ameyaw to hand over to Ernest Mortey, the Finance Director of the NLA.

Mr Mortey is to act as the Director-General of the Authority until a substantive Director-General is appointed.

Mr Osei Ameyaw was directed to collect any terminal benefits or facilities due him under the law.

This comes after the former MP wrote to the presidency through Nana Asante Bediatuo on March 9, reminding him of the end of his contract date of February 20, 2021.

"I wish to inform the President through you that the extension of my tenure has come to an end," he said in his letter.

He further thanked President Akufo-Addo for the opportunity to serve him and the nation.

NLA workers call for Osei Ameyaw's head

On March 1, some staff of the Authority demanded the immediate dismissal of the Director-General, Mr Osei Ameyaw over the non-payment of big wins across the country.

They alleged that some of their members have received threats and in some instances been attacked due to the development.

“We are sending a message that we are not on strike. We are not demonstrating, we are just removing ourselves from the dangers that we see because our workers are being attacked,” General Secretary for the Financial, Business, and Services Employees Union of the NLA, Benjamin Mingle explained.

Mr Mingle told JoyNews that a letter has been sent to the National Labour Commission (NLC) to explaining the reasons for the development and the way forward.

The situation forced the Commission to summon the NLA Staff Union and Mr Osei Ameyaw to find a resolution to the concerns by the aggrieved staff.

At the hearing, the Director-General explained to the NLC that “ in this day and age where cyber-crime has become a big issue, big wins are thoroughly investigated, verified and validated before payments of the said wins.”