NLA and VAG Merge to Fight Illegal Lottery

The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has taken another giant stride aimed at fighting illegal lottery in the country.

The Authority has signed an agreement with the Veterans Administration of Ghana (VAG) to that effect.  The agreement has seen VAG seed of all its authority in the lottery business to NLA.

Hitherto this agreement, VAG which is duly registered to operate lottery, authorized some agents to engage in the business. But some illegal ‘banker to banker’ operators hid under the pretence of VAG to operate.

Speaking to Starr Business, the Director General of NLA, Kofi Osei-Ameyaw said the move is a ‘win win’ for both parties.

“Many people were conducting illegal lotto business in the name of the VAG license. VAG also didn’t have the capacity to fight the menace therefore the situation persisted for a long time. Now with this new agreement we have the sole power to license all lotto operators and no one can hide behind VAG to operate illegally,” Mr. Osei –Ameyaw stated.

As part of the agreement, the NLA gave VAG GH¢220,000. Of the amount, GH¢120,000 would be used to support activities of VAG and the remaining channeled into VAG’s corporate social responsibility activities.

Apart from that, the NLA would on a monthly basis give VAG GH¢120,000 for its activities.

The five-year renewal agreement is also to assist the veterans in the areas of health, transportation and accommodation.