Razak Kojo Opoku
Founder and president of Concerned Voters’ Movement (CVM) has said his “100 per cent loyalty is to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and any of his appointees who is championing the course to make the President’s work successful.”
To this end, he has stated that all members of the governing New Patriotic Party “have the patriotic duty to support President Akufo-Addo to succeed.”
This was contained in a statement by Mr Kojo Opoku to clarify some ongoing brouhaha surrounding the operations of the National Lottery Authority (NLA).
“We won’t allow public officials to run state organizations as if it is their personal property. Certainly not under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told us to be citizens not spectators. Ghana first and first always. We serve Ghana not personality,” he said in the statement.
NLA issues
Operations of the NLA has recently being in the news for several reasons. President Akufo-Addo, early this month, directed the Director-General of the Authority, Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, to proceed on retirement. His deputy, Yaw Amoakohene Baafi, also had his appointment terminated by the President.
This week, the acting leadership of the Authority has announced the suspension all collaboration agreements which have not received the appropriate approval from its board of directors.
The action was taken in accordance with the National Lotto Act 722 and Lottery Regulations L. I. 1948.
Mr Kojo Opoku in his statement questioned why a “private lotto company be allowed to do 5/90 live draws on TV to the detriment of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), an action which has the propensity to collapse the NLA.”
“Should we allow NLA to collapse under the NPP government? No!” he emphasised.
He continued, “Why should a private lotto company be allowed to do short code operating 5/90 Game under Act 844 without board approval, and without paying anything to the Authority?”
“Why should NLA as chief regulator and operator be struggling financially, and Banker to Banker Lotto operators would be flourishing to the detriment of the government? This is highly unacceptable,” he said.
“Why should a private lotto operator pay 30-40 per cent commission to its writers/agents and NLA would be struggling to pay only 20 per cent commission to its accredited lotto marketing companies?
“Why should technical service providers be allowed to charge 4-6 per cent fees on the gross sales of NLA and not on the net? This arrangement needs review,” he added.
Dubious contract
Mr Kojo Opoku further wondered why major contracts were signed by the former Director-General without appropriate board approval.
He further indicted the former Director-General for transacting businesses with lotto companies in Nigeria, which rely on NLA draw numbers, without board approval, and without the knowledge of the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the President.
“Why should a technical service provider for VAG Lotto, allegedly connected to former Director-General, operate 5/90 Game on their platform without approval and authorization from the Board?
“These are some of the many issues we are doing our best to address… but unfortunately we are rather being attacked by people who should have even considered reaching out to NLA for its side of the matter,” he stated.
Source: dailystatesman.com.gh
