The National Lottery Authority (NLA) says its inability to clamp down on illegal lottery operations across the country is due to interference from political figures. 

According to the Director General of the NLA, Sammy Awuku, the NLA has seen a consistent decline in revenue generation from over GH₵400 million in 2017 to GH₵200 million in 2021. 

Mr Awuku said his outfit has identified some 780 illegal operating lotto companies in Ghana and Ghana's lottery field is estimated by the World Lotto Association to raise 1.8 billion cedis a year. 

“Out of this, about a billion is in the hands of the illegal operators. They don't pay taxes. We don't know them. You go after them and it becomes a political matter. 

“But now we have decided that in helping us get to that revenue mobilisation point, if you are not licensed to operate lottery, we won't allow you to operate,” he said.

Responding to the findings of the Attorney General’s report at the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament, Mr Awuku said that the Authority loses at least one billion cedis to lottery operations in the black market.

The NLA Director General said the NLA is engaged in a tussle with the Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) among several measures to clamp down on illegal lottery operations.

“The measures we've taken is to stamp our authority. Our given mandate by Parliament and the law that if you are not licensed to operate lottery, we won't allow you to operate.

“We’ve been embarking on swoops, but the Board took a firm decision last week that the NLA must now go out there to ensure that regardless of whoever you are, if you are not licensed to operate the lottery, you shouldn't operate it,” he stressed.