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After a five-day search, the body of a seven-year-old boy, identified as Kwame, who went missing at Abrepo Bronikrom in the Ashanti Region, has been found at Akropong, several kilometres away from where he was last seen.

The tragic discovery last Monday stunned search teams, who said they had not anticipated the boy’s body would travel such a long distance.

Kwame went missing five days earlier while playing in the rain with two other children. According to eyewitnesses, one of the children’s slippers was washed away by floodwaters, and Kwame was swept into a gutter while attempting to retrieve it.

Wayomi, a member of the search team, expressed shock over the development. ‘They are really surprised because they didn’t know that the body will go that far,’ he told reporters.

The remains of the deceased have since been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for autopsy. The family and the search team are awaiting the release of the body for burial.

The incident has left the community in deep grief, though the recovery of the boy’s body brings some closure to his family and neighbours after days of uncertainty.

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ghana, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency in galamsey-affected areas to safeguard the nation’s water bodies.

According to the group, galamsey may not be contagious as COVID-19 but its long-term effects on health, the environment, and livelihoods are equally destructive.

FIDA is the latest body to call on the President to declare a state of emergency on galamsey to avert the devasting effect of illegal mining in the country.

Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference as well as some civil society organisations (CSOs) have called on government to take decisive measures in the fight against illegal mining in recent months.

The President, during an encounter with the press on September 10, 2025, rebutted calls on him to declare a state of emergency, indicating that his government had not yet exhausted measures in tackling the menace.

Last week, he told CSOs that he will not hesitate to declare a state of emergency if the National Security Council advises him that the time had come to do so.

FIDA Ghana Disagrees

FIDA Ghana, in an open letter signed by its President, Gloria Ofori Boadu, added its voice to calls for the institution of state of emergency in mining areas to protect the environment and individuals, especially women, who it says bear the heaviest burden.

‘Women who fetch water for households, farm food crops, process and trade in food and fish, or work and sell along the agricultural and gold value chains are directly endangered by the toxic chemicals used in small-scale mining,’ the letter noted.

It said anecdotal evidence suggests similar adverse effect on fertility, women’s reproductive health and foetal and child cognitive development.

‘Mercury and cyanide contamination threaten not only our health but also the very food security of the nation. Needless to say, we are all at risk,’ it said.

FIDA Ghana is therefore, calling on President Mahama to uphold the constitutional and international right to water-recognised by the United Nations in 2010 and enshrined in Article 33(5) of the 1992 Constitution-by declaring a state of emergency in galamsey-affected areas to safeguard our water bodies.

It is also calling for the immediate repeal of L.I. 2462 to permanently prohibit mining activities in forest reserves.

Again, the group wants the Ministry of Health and its agencies to urgently provide clear, nationwide guidance on how citizens can protect themselves from exposure to heavy metals in food and water.

It further called on the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to take decisive action to identify, warn against, ban, recall, and destroy local produce as well as bottled and sachet water found to be contaminated with heavy metals.

Finally, FIDA Ghana urged the Ministry of Agriculture, through its extension officers to conduct a comprehensive mapping of farming areas across Ghana, highlighting regions with elevated levels of heavy metals.

‘This must include full disclosure of associated health risks and provide the public with reliable information on how to access safe food sources,’ it added.

The management and staff of the Daily Guide Network on Saturday joined family, friends, and colleagues to commemorate the one-week observance of the late George Clifford Owusu, a long-serving entertainment journalist with the Daily Guide newspaper.

The solemn ceremony drew a large gathering of relatives, media practitioners, and figures from the Ghana’s creative industry who came together to celebrate the life and legacy of one of the nation’s most respected showbiz writers.

Staff of the Daily Guide Network, where Clifford worked for many years, turned out in full force to mourn their departed colleague, whose professionalism, warmth, and commitment to promoting Ghanaian entertainment left an enduring mark on the industry.

Among the many who attended were the Acting President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bessa Simons, who led a delegation from the union, as well as veteran musician Sly Collins, President of the Rastafarian Association of Africa Daddy Bosco Ahuma, and former MUSIGA President Bice Osei Kuffour, popularly known as Obour.

They joined other creative arts stakeholders in paying tribute to a journalist who, through his pen and passion, amplified the voices of Ghanaian musicians and helped shape the growth of the local entertainment scene.

Throughout his distinguished career, George Clifford Owusu established himself as a leading figure in entertainment journalism, admired for his factual reporting, insightful analyses, and unwavering dedication to truth and creativity.

His coverage of music, film, and cultural events consistently celebrated Ghana’s artistic talent, both emerging and established.

The one-week observance featured heartfelt tributes, prayers, and songs of reflection in honour of his life’s work and enduring influence on Ghanaian media and culture.

The final funeral rites for the late George Clifford Owusu will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Apenkwa Presbyterian Church in Tesano, Accra.

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the Ho Municipal has rolled out a special registration and renewal exercise with the aim of signing up at least 10,000 members during this year’s Asogli Yam Festival (Te Za).

The initiative, according to the Scheme, forms part of efforts to bring health services closer to residents of Ho and its surrounding communities.

To achieve the target, registration centres have been mounted at strategic locations, including the forecourt of Togbe Afede XIV’s Palace, Royal Hospital Forecourt, Ahoe Community Centre, and the Ho Municipal NHIS Office. An additional centre has also been set up at the grand durbar grounds to cater for festival patrons.

The Ho Municipal NHIS Manager, Saviour Amakpa, stated that the outreach exercise is expected to not only boost membership but also give residents an opportunity to directly engage with the Scheme.

‘This is a chance for people to register, renew, and at the same time learn more about how the Scheme operates,’ he stated.

The NHIS Volta Regional Accountant and Liaison Officer to the Asogli State, Mr. Raymond Boamah, emphasised the strategic importance of the festival.

‘The Asogli Te Za is one of the most significant traditional festivals in the Ho Municipality, making it an ideal platform to engage a wide audience. Our main goal is to increase membership, bring services to the doorsteps of our people, listen to their concerns, and educate them on our policies and innovations,’ he disclosed.

Aside from registration and renewals, the NHIS team will also distribute membership handbooks to improve public awareness of the Scheme’s benefit packages and processes.

By the close of the Yam Festival, the Authority is confident of achieving its 10,000 target, reaffirming its mission to expand access to quality healthcare for all Ghanaians.

Dr. MATTHEW Opoku Prempeh’s extraordinary works in the smooth implementation of the famous Free Senior High School (SHS) policy in 2017, when he was the Minister of Education, has shot him to international fame.

Affectionately called ‘Napo’ in political circles, he is a proud recipient of the prestigious ‘Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program’s Medal of Achievement’ award, which was presented to him in the United States (US), few days ago.

He was recognised and duly awarded by Harvard University in 2020 for his key roles in the Free SHS implementation, but due to travelling restrictions at the time, which was occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the award was presented to him virtually.

Napo, an alumnus of the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program, a non-prescriptive program designed to support appointed ministers serving their countries, was invited by Harvard University to share his experience.

The world acclaimed academic institution took advantage of Napo’s presence in the US and officially presented the prestigious award to him during a short and colourful programme, to the admiration of the ex-Education Minister.

‘This year, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, a distinguished alumnus of the Program (2017), and former Minister for Education in Ghana (2017-2021), returned to the Forum to share his experience as Minister with current participants.

‘As Minister for Education, he led reforms in secondary education, successfully fulfilling his mandate and leaving a legacy,’ a statement from the renowned academic institution stated.

‘Recognized for his achievements, Dr. Prempeh was awarded the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program’s Medal of Achievement in 2020. However, due to the pandemic, the award was presented virtually. This year, during the Forum, he finally received the honor in person,’ it added.

It further said ‘when appointed, Dr. Prempeh was tasked by his President to deliver Free Senior High School (Free SHS) in his country, a new policy program that would provide free education, paying for a total of 41 items, including tuition, meals, textbooks, and boarding for Ghanaian children qualified for secondary education.

‘Appointed in February 2017, he attended the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program in June of the same year. By September 2017, just seven months after his appointment, Dr. Prempeh launched Free SHS nationwide and, consequently, increased SHS attendance in Ghana.’

Napo Shares Free SHS Success Secret

Addressing his audience, Napo, who was beaming with smiles over the honour, said the training and education that he received from the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program helped him greatly to implement the Free SHS policy in 2017.

‘Harvard opened my eyes to delivery units, stakeholder mapping, and rapid implementation. It showed me how to track every detail, so nothing slipped through. That’s how we launched Free SHS in just seven months.

‘My participation in the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program gave me top-notch knowledge and skills in leadership, governance, and management.

‘I got the opportunity to hear and learn firsthand the success stories and the pitfalls to avoid from a wide range of current and former ministers from across the globe,’ he disclosed.

The programme, Napo said, ‘also provided a network and a pool of experts to contact in times of need. Overall, the programme gave me the needed confidence to execute my mandate as Minister of Education successfully.’

According to him, in the first year of Free SHS, ‘dropout rates in the South fell to match the North. Over 100,000 students each year, who would have been on the streets, were now in school.’

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced plans to begin issuing vehicle number plates in the names of individuals starting January 2026.

This new system will link each registered number plate directly to its owner, making the individual fully responsible for all matters associated with the vehicle.

The move forms part of a series of sweeping reforms being undertaken by the DVLA to enhance security, accountability, and safety on the country’s roads.

According to the Authority, the new policy will ensure that each vehicle number belongs exclusively to the registered owner, who must remove the number plate when transferring ownership.

‘Once implemented, every vehicle owner is entreated to see their vehicle numbers as their personal numbers, with the added responsibility of protecting them,’ the DVLA said in a statement.

The statement further explained that when a vehicle is sold, the previous owner is required to remove the number plate, allowing the new owner to apply for and secure a new registration number.

‘This enables the Authority and security agencies within the transport ecosystem to link a unique vehicle number to an individual,’ it added.

The announcement follows just over a month after the DVLA unveiled another set of reforms, including the introduction of new number plate designs and enhanced tracking technology.

Under the new design, the year of registration will be phased out from plates beginning January 2026.

The revised plates will instead feature the regional name where the vehicle was registered, the vehicle’s unique identification number, and an area code.

Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, also revealed the introduction of Dealer’s Permit (DP) stickers to replace traditional aluminum dealer plates.

He explained that the new DP stickers will improve accountability and allow the Authority to trace vehicles from the ports into the nation’s transport system.

‘The new DP sticker allows us to track who is driving the car, when it arrived in Ghana, its destination, and when the sticker expires. Once scanned, the code reveals all these details. It was wrong to have cars in the system without knowing their owners, but now, right from the port, we know who owns the vehicle,’ Mr. Kotey explained in an interview on Channel One TV.

Delta Air Lines has reaffirmed its commitment to Ghana with the introduction of seasonal daily nonstop service between Accra and Atlanta, beginning December 1, 2025.

The move reinforces the airline’s long-standing investment in the Ghanaian market as it celebrates its 100th anniversary.

At a press briefing held in Accra recently, Michael Thomas, Delta’s General Manager of Communications, reflected on a century marked by innovation, reliability, and operational excellence, while highlighting Ghana’s pivotal role in the airline’s Africa strategy.

‘Ghana is a key gateway in Delta’s Africa network. Our decision to expand service from Accra reflects our confidence in this market and our commitment to delivering world-class travel experiences to our customers,’ he said.

‘Our nearly two decades of service in Ghana have shown us the strength, resilience, and ambition of this market. As we look ahead, we are not only investing in flights and aircraft; we are investing in people, partnerships, and Ghana’s growth story,’ he added.

According to him, Delta has served Ghana since 2006, carrying approximately 1.5 million customers on its New York-JFK route.

He stated that with the introduction of the new service, Delta will now operate two direct routes to Accra: year-round daily flights from New York-JFK and newly launched seasonal flights from Atlanta.

Mr. Thomas said for 19 years, Delta has served as a trusted link between Ghana and the United States, boosting economic activity, cultural exchange, and family connections across continents.

‘Delta’s commitment goes far beyond connecting markets. It’s about creating jobs, supporting local initiatives, and partnering with communities to make a difference where it matters most,’ said Mary Abisola Gbobaniyi, Manager, Sales West Africa.

‘We reinvest one percent of our global profits into programs like Junior Achievement Africa and Breast Care International, ensuring our impact extends far beyond aviation,’ she added.

She continued that Delta’s community partnerships in Ghana include a decade-long collaboration with Breast Care International (BCI) to promote breast cancer awareness and early detection.

Together, they have educated over 150,000 people, screened more than 20,000 individuals, and identified approximately 2,000 suspected cases. Through annual screenings and awareness walks, the partnership has reached rural areas, with over 65,000 women screened through targeted campaigns.

She said Delta remains the only U.S. carrier offering nonstop service from Accra to New York-JFK, providing seamless onward connections to over 200 destinations across North America.

The airline’s sustained presence in Africa underscores its strategic, long-term commitment to the continent.

Delta currently operates flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos, Accra, and Dakar, and will expand to Marrakech later this month.

Founded in 1925, Delta has grown into one of the world’s leading airlines, known for reliability, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence. A century of innovation – including the introduction of the Airbus A330-900neo on the Accra route – continues to define its legacy of excellence and service.

With an unusual number of treatment plants being shut down by the Ghana Water Company, a situation occasioned by heightened illegal mining activities on water bodies, the Dormaahene’s picture of a declining incidence of illegal mining activities cannot be acceptable.

The water purification and distribution agency have had to take such difficult steps in the face of a consistent declining state of water at their intake points; muddied, arsenic and other heavy metals are proving too challenging to deal with.

The quantity of chemicals the water company must now use has to be increased, the cost and health implications of which should not be glossed over.

In the past eight months or so, food crops from galamsey areas are becoming toxic, a situation which has led to customers seeking to know the source of such items. The picture of reduced galamsey activities in the country as painted by the Dormaahene recently does not correspond with the reality on the grounds.

Last week, after becoming an Appeals Court judge, the Dormaahene gave a pass mark to the government for reducing illegal mining activities in the country.

The observation, a subtle commendation as it were for the government, went viral on especially political platforms because it was not in consonance with the reality on the ground.

The pitch of complaints about the seeming uncontrollable galamsey activities in the country is nearing rooftop, and attempts to change the narrative would incur the wrath of the people.

Our revered chiefs should especially be wary about how they jump into such delicate subjects lest they attract inappropriate reactions from their subjects.

Being custodians of our culture and regarded as representatives of our ancestors, we must be measured in dissecting and even responding to their remarks.

We are however in unchartered waters; the lives of the people have never been so threatened by an occupation which is not responding to treatment as represented by galamsey.

It is on this score that we wish to humbly tell the chief that his observation has attracted wry smiles among many Ghanaians who think that he could be observing the water bodies and forest reserves from another planet.

As a chief, he perhaps has not been briefed sufficiently by his subjects who might have not covered the galamsey hotspots.

National Security reports, restricted as they might be, offer a lot of insights into the galamsey menace.

The illegality has assumed an unprecedented rate, the reason for which reality is not farfetched. There is a certain brazenness among those engaged in the illegality which could be hinged upon the pre-election 2024 campaign promise to such persons by political actors.

The promise to release from imprisonment persons doing time because of their galamsey activities and the condemnation of sending soldiers to chase illegal miners both account for the boldness being exhibited by them.

That President John Mahama directed that Joseph Yamin and Abanga to be investigated by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for their alleged complicity in illegal mining and the subsequent non-action in that direction suggests a non-commitment to fight and eliminate illegal mining.

The recent engagement with civil society organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders on illegal mining is enough indication that matters regarding galamsey have come to a head.

Sending such signals to government about an abating galamsey is dangerous and does not help the cause of eliminating the menace.

The chief should seek another means of commending government but certainly not in the war against illegal mining, which from all indications has aggravated in scope and reach.

Highlife artiste, Kofi Kinaata, has revealed that his popularity in Kumasi has soared following an endorsement from the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

In an interview with NY DJ on BTM Afrika, the multiple award-winning musician said the Asantehene’s public recognition of his work has greatly boosted his career, resulting in increased streaming figures, social media engagement, and new corporate performance opportunities.

‘Kumasi is becoming a hotspot for me, especially since the endorsement came. The endorsement did a lot for me. It brought in some corporate shows, and my numbers also increased,’ Kinaata said.

The Asantehene, during a Ghana Bar Association event in September 2024, singled out Kinaata’s hit song ‘Susuka’, praising its message of appreciation, humility, and wisdom.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, highlighted the song as an example of the richness of Ghanaian music and urged citizens to uphold values of gratitude and contentment.

Since then, Kofi Kinaata’s influence in the Ashanti Region has grown significantly, with fans and industry players alike recognising the impact of the royal endorsement on his career trajectory.

Many people out of ignorance of the lottery industry have stated that NLA should rather operate NLA 5/90 USSD and Web online lottery instead of Third Party Companies and Collaborators.

They argue that the NLA is also the only body mandated to operate lottery under Section 4 of the National Lotto Act, 2006(Act 722).

Respectfully, I would like to use this article to correct the misleading accounts, misinformation, disinformation, and misinterpretation of the Act 722 being championed by some media houses such us the Fourth Estate and Mr. Sulemana Briamah against the NLA-KGL license agreement because they think that NLA-KGL deal is not in the best interest of Ghana.

I will start by breaking down the practical implementation of Act 722 and the Lottery Regulations, 2008(L. I. 1948):

Powers of NLA under Act 722 and L. I. 1948

The National Lottery Authority (NLA) under National Lotto Act, 2006(Act 722) and Lottery Regulations, 2008(L. I. 1948) has six main powers. They include:

Operational Powers

Regulatory Powers

Supervisory Powers

Management Powers

Collaboration/Partnership/Joint Venture Powers

Powers of the Board of NLA

These aforementioned powers can be seen under:

Section 4(1) of Act 722 which states that, ‘A person other than the Authority shall not operate any form of lottery’.

Section 35(1) of Act 722 which states that, ‘The Authority shall regulate, supervise, and manage National Lotto and ensure the enforcement of the laws relating to National Lotto’.

Operational Powers of NLA under Act 722 and L. I. 1948

The operational powers of the National Lottery Authority(NLA) are captured under:

(a). Section 2(2) of Act 722 which states that, ‘the National Lottery Authority established under Part II(see Section 34 of Act 722) shall be the institution to conduct national lotto.

(b. Section 4(1) of Act 722 which states that, ‘A person other than the Authority shall not operate any form of lottery’.

To operate lottery in Ghana to the public is NOT the same as to sell lottery products to the public or to regulate and supervise lottery by NLA.

Section 2(2) and Section 4(1) of Act 722 are implemented by using:

(1) Section 3 of Act 722 (Time and place for conducting National Lotto).

(2) Section 23 of Act 722 (Draw of National Lotto).

(3) Section 24 of Act 722 (Supervision of draw).

(4) Regulation 1 of L.I. 1948 (Lottery Draw Committee).

(5) Regulation 21 of L. I. 1948 (Draw of national lottery).

(6) Regulation 22 of L. I. 1948 (Supervision by the Lottery Draw Committee).

Hence, the operational powers of the National Lottery Authority(NLA) under Act 722 and Lottery Regulations, 2008 (L. I. 1948) is strictly about the Conduct and Supervision of Lotto Draws, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the sale of lottery tickets or products.

I wish to state categorically that, the argument put forward by Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate using Section 4(1) of Act 722 (Prohibition of lottery) to draw a conclusion that NLA has the sole power to sell Lotto directly to the public using the USSD and Web online instead of KGL Technology Limited is absolutely FALSE and totally misleading to the Public.

To operate lotto under Act 722 and L. I. 1948 means ‘to conduct and supervise lotto draws’, and it is solely the responsibility of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to conduct and supervise Lotto Draws in this country.

For the avoidance of any form of doubt, KGL Technology Limited has NOT breached the operational powers of NLA since the company has NEVER conducted or supervised its own Lotto Draws.

KGL Technology Limited ONLY uses the numbers drawn and supervised by the National Lottery Authority (NLA).

Regulatory Powers of NLA under Act 722 and L. I. 1948

The regulatory powers of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) involve:

Licensing of Lotto Marketing Companies and Collaborators.

Licensing of Private Lotto Operators using Veterans Administration Ghana (VAG), Act 844.

Ensuring Compliance and Enforcement of Act 722, L. I. 1948, and Section 22 of Act 844.

The regulatory powers of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) are implemented using:

Section 5 of Act 722 (Licensing of Lotto Marketing Companies).

Section 6 of Act 722 (Application for Lotto Marketing Companies).

Section 7 of Act 722 (Grant of license and license fee)

Section 8 of Act 722 (Requirements for Lotto Marketing Companies).

Section 9 of Act 722 (Duties of Lotto Marketing Companies.

Section 10 of Act 722 (Publication of Lotto Marketing License).

Section 11 of Act 722 (Suspension or revocation of license).

Section 12 of Act 722 (Renewal of license).

Section 13 of Act 722 (Non-transferability of license).

Section 14 of Act 722 (Offences in respect of a Lotto Marketing license).

Section 18 of Act 722 (Prohibition in relation to coupons).

Section 19 of Act 722 (Offences in relation to a coupon).

Section 20 of Act 722 (Participation in National lotto and purchase of coupons).

Section 27 of Act 722 (Offences in relation to National Lotto Draw).

Section 29 of Act 722 (Foreign lottery).

Section 30 of Act 722 (Repeated Offences).

Section 31 of Act 722 (Seizure and forfeiture of objects used for or relating to Offence).

Regulation 2 of L. I. 1948 (Licensing of Lotto Marketing Companies).

Regulation 3 of L. I. 1948 (Renewal of a license).

Regulation 5 of L. I. 1948 (Grounds for suspension or revocation of a license).

Regulation 12 of L. I. 1948 (Online lottery).

Regulation 17 of. L. I. 1948 (Offences relating to sale of coupons).

KGL Technology Limited was licensed to sell NLA 5/90 lottery products via USSD and Web online under the regulatory powers of the National Lottery Authority(NLA) especially based on: Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 13 of Act 722, as well as Regulations 12 of L. I. 1948.

Therefore, any argument put forward by the Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah against the NLA-KGL license Agreement is completely BOGUS, and without any form of legal justification.

Supervisory Powers of NLA under Act 722 and L. I. 1948

The supervisory powers of the National Lottery Authority are implemented using:

Section 15 of Act 722 (Issue of Coupons).

Section 16 of Act 722 (Supply of coupons to Lotto Marketing Companies).

Section 17 of Act 722 (Validity of Coupons).

Section 21 of Act 722 (The duties of a participant in National lotto).

Section 22 of Act 722 (Acceptance of a stake).

Regulation 6 of L. I. 1948 (Prohibitions).

Regulation 7 of L. I. 1948 (Sale of lottery).

Regulation 10 of L. I. 1948 (Official closure of lottery game).

Regulation 18 of L. I. 1948 (Duties of staker).

Regulation 19 of L.I.1948 (Acceptance of stakes).

Regulation 20 of L. I. 1948 (Deposit of counterfoil books).

Regulation 26 of L. I. 1948 (Supply of identification numbers).

Regulation 27 of L. I. 1948 (Forfeiture of security).

Regulation 30 of L.I.1948 (Discontinuance of existing lottery and introduction of new lottery).

Regulation 31 of L.I.1948 (Suspension of lottery activity).

It is only the Board of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) that supervises the business activities of KGL Technology Limited, and appropriately reviews the existing agreements between the Authority and KGL Technology Limited.

Therefore, the allegations by Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate should be completely ignored.

Mr. Sulemana Briamah and the Fourth Estate have also FAILED to establish any form of corruption or suspected corruption regarding the NLA-KGL License Agreement.

Management Powers of NLA under Act 722 and L. I. 1948

According to Section 35(2) of the National Lotto Act, 2006(Act 722), ‘The Authority SHALL NOT RETAIL Lotto coupons to lotto stakers’.

Clearly, Section 35(2) of Act 722 completely defeats the arguments put forward by Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate regarding the NLA-KGL deal.

How would NLA manage the NLA 5/90 USSD and Web online lottery since Section 35(2) of Act 722 doesn’t give any power to NLA to retail lottery products to the staking public?

However, the management powers of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) are implemented using:

Section 25 of Act 722 (Winnings).

Section 26 of Act 722 (Prizes).

Section 28 of Act 722 (Commission).

Section 32 of Act 722 (Lotto Account).

Section 33 of Act 722 (Deficit in Lotto Account to be a charge on Consolidated Fund).

Regulation 4 of L. I. 1948 (Security deposit for license).

Regulation 8 of L. I. 1948 (Instant lottery and scratch lottery).

Regulation 9 of L. I. 1948 (Procedures for claim of instant prizes).

Regulation 11 of L. I. 1948 (Instant ticket validation requirements).

Regulation 32 of L. I. 1948 (Prize disbursement account).

Collaboration/Partnership/Joint Venture Powers of NLA under Act 722 and L. I. 1948

The National Lottery Authority (NLA) under:

Section 2(4) of Act 722 can operate any other game of chance or enter into collaboration, partnership or joint venture with any person, society, association, or corporate entity, to operate a game of chance in accordance with existing laws but losses from the game of chance, the collaboration, partnership or joint venture shall not be compensated for by the State or from the Lotto Account provided for under section 32.

Based on the provisions under Section 2(4), there is absolutely no basis for the brouhaha coming from Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate regarding the collaboration and partnership between NLA and KGL.

Also, if through this partnership, all the losses are on the head of KGL, why must we then create an impression that KGL benefits more than the State?

Regulation 12 of L. I. 1948 states that, ‘the Board may authorise the Director-General to select, operate, and contract for the operation of online lottery which shall be subject to some conditions as stated in the Lottery Regulations.

The NLA-KGL deal is strongly backed by Regulations 12, 13, and 14 of Lottery Regulations, 2008(L. I. 1948).

Based on the provisions captured under Regulations 12, 13 and 14 of L. I. 1948, the Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah have absolutely NO case against the NLA-KGL deal. This gives strong backing to the public perception that KGL was targeted by some faceless financiers of Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate.

Powers of the Board of NLA under Act 722 and L. I. 1948

The Board of National Lottery Authority (NLA) has been given the power to devise methods to help maximize the revenue generated by the Authority for the State(Section 37(d) of Act 722) in full alignment with Section 2(1) of Act 22 which states that, ‘National lotto shall be conducted for the purpose of raising revenue for the nation and for other purposes stated in this Act.’

The NLA-KGL deal is so far the best license agreement ever issued by the Board of the National Lottery Authority (NLA).

The record speaks for itself as compared to some licenses issued to other Lotto Marketing Companies, Private Lotto Operators, and Collaborators.

Absolutely, none of the license agreements issued by the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to private companies have been able to deliver massive financial resources to the NLA which is higher than what KGL has delivered to the NLA from 2019 up-to-date.

I would like to boldly state that, for the first time, Sulemana Briamah and the Fourth Estate have completely and totally gotten it WRONG with their investigation regarding NLA-KGL License Agreement.

The NLA-KGL deal is the best so far, and we all must encourage the partnership between these two entities with the patriotic aim of demanding more money for the State as the business of KGL Technology Limited keep expanding.

We should not tolerate or encourage unnecessary commentaries against the NLA-KGL license Agreement from Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate because it seems they are doing so out of ignorance or perhaps personal agenda borne out of bitterness, envy, and jealousy.

Wrong Interpretation of Section 2(3) of Act 722 by Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah

According to the Fourth Estate, money meant for the poor and mentally afflicted were given away to the rich, citing Section 2(3) of Act 722, which states that, ‘there shall be conducted as part of the operation of National Lotto, a lottery with the object of providing care and protection for the physically or mentally afflicted, needy, the aged, orphans and destitute children’.

Per Section 2(3) of Act 722, the NLA as part of its operation(not full operations) is supposed to introduce a lottery product with the specific objective of raising revenue to provide care and protection for the physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans and destitute children. This does not mean that all revenues generated by NLA are meant for the physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans and destitute children.

Since the enactment of Act 722, the NLA has NOT been able as part of its operations to conduct a lottery with the object of providing care and protection for the physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans and destitute children as stated in Section 2(3) of Act 722.

The NLA 5/90 is NOT a lottery product conducted for the purposes of raising revenue to satisfy the provision of Section 2(3) of Act 722. If NLA want to satisfy the provisions of Section 2(3), the Authority has to conduct a new lottery with that specific objective but unfortunately the Authority has NOT been able to implement Section 2(3) of Act 722.

Therefore, it doesn’t make sense for Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah to LIE to the general public that NLA revenue is strictly for providing care and protection to the poor, physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans and destitute children.

If Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah are honest and fair enough then they should do flyers to highlight ALL the beneficiaries of the NLA Good Causes Foundation and share such flyers with the Ghanaian people through their various social media platforms?

The decision of Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate to deliberately design flyers and write stories about selected few beneficiaries of NLA Good Causes Foundation, leaving out the rest of the beneficiaries’ amount to the highest level of unprofessionalism and unethical journalism.

It is very important to state that, revenues generated by NLA are meant for the Consolidated Fund as captured under Section 32(4) of Act 722, not strictly for the physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans, and destitute children.

Also, National Lottery Authority (NLA) shall meet its operational and capital expenditure from the Lotto Fund as stated in Section 50 of Act 722.

Finally, the Facts and Data proves that, NLA has NEVER generated GHS 3 billion business in a single year in the absence of KGL License Agreement. It is therefore misleading to state that NLA has given away GHS 3 billion Business to KGL because KGL itself started operations from zero, it took huge investments, IT Infrastructure development, Systems Integration, and marketing to reach where they are now with absolutely ZERO investments and support from the National Lottery Authority (NLA).

The only thing NLA does for KGL is the issuance of License and conduct of Lotto Draws.

It is equally important for Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah to consider also, the 60-70% of the GHS 3 billion which goes into payment of winners of national lotto.

For instance, NLA used 8years from 2013-2020 to generate GHS 2, 766, 159, 507(GHS 2.7 billion) and out of this GHS 2.7 billion, the NLA used GHS 1, 378, 104, 374(GHS 1.3 billion) to pay Winners of National Lotto.

Also, out of that same GHS 2.7 billion, the NLA:

Transferred GHS 182, 009, 000(GHS 180 million) to the Consolidated Fund, an amount which is far less than what KGL has paid to NLA even within a 2-year period of 2024-2025.

used GHS 553, 014, 988(over GHS 500 million) to pay commission to Lotto Marketing Companies.

The Lotto Marketing Companies earned more money than the Consolidated Fund and the NLA itself based on the existing revenue sharing agreement between Lotto Marketing Companies and the National Lottery Authority (NLA).

used GHS 153, 302, 459(over GHS 150 million) to pay fees to the Technical Service Providers such as Lots Services Ghana Limited and Simnet Ghana Limited.

For the purpose of education, it is well noted that:

(a). Lots Services Ghana Limited has 15 years contract with NLA subject to renewal for another 15 years after expiration.

(b). Simnet Ghana Limited has 10 years contract with NLA subject to renewal for another 10 years after expiration.

(c). NLA has also signed 10-15years license agreement with some Private Lotto Operators in 2024.

used the rest of the revenue for payment of GPRS Fees to Telecos, Suppliers of Thermal Paper Rolls, and Administrative and General Expenses of the Authority.

Asking for value for money should not mean that we should become mischievous, and diabolical in our demands for public accountability.

Real Problems at the NLA

The real problems at NLA that Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah should take an interest in if they are indeed serving the interest of the public and not their personal agenda are as follows:

Illegal lottery operators and agents controlling about 80% of the lottery industry across the country who pays absolutely nothing to NLA and GRA.

Some of these illegal lottery operators have been in the industry for the past 30-40years without any records of payments to NLA and GRA.

Procurement contracts to some Technical Service Providers whereby they are freely enjoying 6% on every gross revenue generated by NLA via the Point of Sale Terminals.

Payment of 25% Commission to the Lotto Marketing Companies based on the gross revenue generated by NLA. This is very outrageous when compared to other countries operating lottery.

I am seriously surprised that, Sulemana Briamah and Fourth Estate are not interested in the aforementioned 3 real problems at the NLA but rather wasting their energy and time on KGL which is giving value to NLA and GRA concurrently.

Even if KGL cease running NLA 5/90 USSD and Web Online lottery right now, which section(s) of Act 722 and L. I. 1948 has stated that, NLA by itself can retail 5/90 lottery via USSD and Web online lottery? Absolutely none.

The NLA would still have to rely on another Lotto Marketing company to run the NLA 5/90 USSD and Web online lottery if KGL cease the running of the NLA 5/90 USSD and Web Online lottery.

So, where from this useless noise from Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah against NLA-KGL deal?