NLA Union Cries Foul Over Alleged Private Capture, Demands Immediate Government Intervention

📍 Accra, Ghana – April 14, 2025 — Staff of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) have raised red flags over what they describe as a “deliberate private capture” of the state-owned lottery body, calling on the government to suspend and review all third-party contracts granted to Private Lotto Operators (PLOs) in the past six years.

In a petition submitted to the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, as well as to the newly appointed Director-General of the NLA, the Financial and Business Services Employees Union (FBSEU of NLA) claims that these deals are illegal, violate the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722), and have severely weakened the Authority’s finances and operations.

Revenue Collapse and Market Loss

The union cited alarming revenue losses, stating that NLA has lost nearly 50% of its market share, translating to over GH₵250 million in shortfalls between 2017 and 2024, primarily due to the rise of PLOs and online platforms.

“These third-party agreements have drained our finances and rendered our Point of Sale Terminals (POSTs) ineffective,” the petition reads.

They also linked the financial decline to massive job losses among Lotto Marketing Companies (LMCs), warning of growing unemployment in the sector traditionally reliant on the Authority’s success.

KGL and Questionable Contracts Under Fire

At the core of the union’s grievances is KEED Ghana Limited (KGL), which operates the NLA’s 5/90 online games. The union accused KGL of:

• Running parallel operations contrary to Act 722.
• Withholding revenue data from the NLA.
• Paying winnings independently and retaining lottery proceeds in private accounts.

Of greater concern is the revelation that the previous NLA Board awarded KGL an exclusive 25-year license — a decision the union describes as “shocking” and “damaging” to the Authority’s independence.

Other companies named include Bluestar Lotto, Alpha Lotto, and Luma Technologies, whom the union says were disguised as technical service providers but are effectively operating as private lotto firms — allegedly undermining NLA’s infrastructure and alienating long-serving LMCs.

Union Threatens Action

The FBSEU is now demanding:

• Immediate suspension and review of all third-party licenses.
• Reconstitution of the NLA Governing Board with members who possess “institutional memory.”

They warned that failure to act may compel staff to take more drastic measures including protests and even halting lotto draws nationwide.

“We will stop at nothing to ensure the sustainability of the NLA for national development and staff welfare,” the union stressed.

As the NLA faces potential collapse under the weight of mismanagement and questionable partnerships, all eyes are now on government and regulatory authorities to intervene and restore public confidence in one of Ghana’s oldest revenue-generating institutions.

📲 Please download our HOTDIGITAL ONLINE APP and follow HotDigital Online on our social media platforms to stay updated on our upcoming initiatives.
#HotDigitalGovernance #NLAUnderSiege #PrivateCaptureAlert #GhanaLotto #Act722 #HotDigitalOnline #StrongerTogether