The Staff of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), through their union, the Financial and Business Services Employees Union (FBSEU of NLA), are calling for urgent government intervention to stop what they have described as a “deliberate private capture” of the state-run lottery business via questionable third-party contracts and licenses.

In a petition submitted to the office of the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, as well as the newly appointed Director General of the NLA, the union is demanding an immediate suspension and review of all third-party agreements granted to Private Lotto Operators (PLOs) over the past six years.

According to the union, these contracts breach the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722), and have contributed to a significant financial and operational decline within the Authority.

The petition highlights a sharp decline in revenue generated through Point of Sale Terminals (POSTs) since the entry of PLOs, with the NLA reportedly losing nearly 50% of its market share — an estimated revenue shortfall of over GH₵250 million between 2017 and 2024.

The union also claims this decline has led to massive job losses among Lotto Marketing Companies (LMCs), who have traditionally been the backbone of NLA’s operations.

Central to the union’s concerns is KEED Ghana Limited (KGL), which operates the NLA’s 5/90 games online.

The union accuses KGL of functioning in ways that contradict its supposed role as a Lotto Marketing Company, including keeping lottery proceeds in private accounts, paying winnings independently, and denying the NLA access to key revenue data.

The union further alleges that the previous NLA Board granted KGL a shocking 25-year exclusive license to run online lotto — a move they argue undermines the Authority’s independence and long-term viability.

Other companies named in the petition include Bluestar Lotto, Alpha Lotto, and Luma Technologies. The union claims these firms were misrepresented as technical service providers but were actually granted licenses to operate as PLOs, contributing to the neglect of NLA infrastructure and the marginalization of long-serving LMCs.

The union is urging the government to take swift action, including reconstituting the NLA’s Governing Board with individuals who possess institutional memory and a commitment to the Authority’s core mandate.

They warned of potential industrial action, including protests and a halt in lotto draws, if their demands are not met, declaring their resolve to “stop at nothing” to safeguard the sustainability of the NLA for national development and staff welfare.