Ghana targets US$172m in annual lottery revenue through reforms
The proposed centralised system would give the NLA direct access to private operators’ sales, winnings and service-payment data.
Key takeaways:
- Ghana could generate more than GH¢2bn (US$172m) annually from its lottery sector if proposed reforms are fully implemented.
- The National Lottery Authority (NLA) plans to integrate private lotto operators into a centralised sales-monitoring system.
- The proposed system would allow the NLA to monitor sales, winnings and service payments across licensed operations.
- KGL Technology paid GH¢173m (US$14.9m) to the NLA in 2025, compared with GH¢44.9m (US$3.9m) from 29 other private lotto operators combined.
- The NLA-KGL agreement remained under review and renegotiation as of October 29, 2026.
Ghana.- Ghana could generate more than GH¢2bn (US$172m) annually from its lottery sector if proposed reforms directed by President John Dramani Mahama are fully implemented, according to National Lottery Authority (NLA) Director-General Mohammed Abdul-Salam. The plans include centralised monitoring of private lotto operators, improved revenue verification and a review of commercial agreements to increase the state’s returns.
Abdul-Salam said the reforms would include integrating private lotto operators into a centralised system managed by the NLA. The proposed platform would give the authority direct access to sales, winnings and service-payment information across licensed operations. He outlined the plans in an interview with The Fourth Estate published on October 29.
The projection follows the NLA’s presentation of a GH¢10m (US$860,000) dividend to the Ministry of Finance for the Consolidated Fund on October 2. The payment marked the resumption of dividend contributions after several years. After receiving the NLA’s GH¢10m dividend, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson said the government was working with the authority and the Attorney-General to review agreements affecting its revenue position.
How could central monitoring increase lottery revenue?
Abdul-Salam outlined how the proposed system would change the NLA’s oversight of private lotto operators. He said: “We would see how much sales you have made, how much in winnings you have paid, and how much you have paid for services, and (what) the 20 per cent share to the NLA should be, even before you come with your statement to prove it.”
Abdul-Salam also highlighted the importance of independent revenue assurance in strengthening the authority’s regulatory oversight. He added: “As a regulator with an independent revenue assurance (mechanism,) we would have had it (lotto sales) first-hand. And we would have programmed punitive measures if you were to report false data.”
The proposed monitoring system would cover different sales channels, including USSD, online platforms and point-of-sale (POS) terminals. Abdul-Salam said the authority had requested commitment authorisation from the Ministry of Finance to install a revenue assurance system that would eliminate paper-based lottery sales.
The transition is intended to give the NLA a central view of lottery activity across licensed operators, strengthening its ability to verify revenue and improve collection.
The NLA’s 2025 figures illustrate the payments reported from private operators. KGL Technology paid GH¢173m (US$14.9m) to the authority during the year, while 29 other private lotto operators combined contributed GH¢44.9m (US$3.9m), according to The Fourth Estate.
Abdul-Salam told the publication that the different operating arrangements also affect how these contributions should be assessed. He said private lotto operators pay the NLA a 20 per cent revenue share, while a 25 per cent commission payment also applies separately from winnings. KGL’s USSD model does not involve the same commission payment.
The NLA’s reform programme includes reviewing revenue-sharing arrangements with private operators, introducing an open and competitive licensing framework to address exclusivity, and implementing independent, real-time revenue monitoring across licensed operations.
The authority has also said it wants to improve transparency and accountability while increasing its contribution to government revenue.
The NLA-KGL Technology agreement is a central part of the wider reform process. President Mahama ordered a comprehensive review of the NLA-KGL contracts in December 2025, with a joint technical team tasked with examining the agreements. Following the committee’s findings, he ordered renegotiation in April 2026.
The review covers the contractual relationship and its financial terms, including revenue-sharing arrangements and the state’s returns. The report stated on October 29 that negotiations had not yet produced a finalised outcome.
The GH¢2bn (US$172m) annual revenue figure remains a projection dependent on the implementation of the proposed reforms. It is not confirmed revenue or a current NLA collection target.
Frequently asked questions FAQs
- How much revenue could Ghana generate from its lottery sector? Ghana could generate more than GH¢2bn (US$172m) annually if the proposed NLA reforms are fully implemented, according to Director-General Mohammed Abdul-Salam.
- How will Ghana’s proposed lottery monitoring system work? The system would integrate private lotto operators into a centralised platform, allowing the NLA to monitor sales, winnings and service payments across USSD, online and POS channels.
- How much did KGL Technology pay to Ghana’s NLA in 2025? KGL Technology paid GH¢173m (US$14.9m) to the NLA in 2025, while 29 other private lotto operators combined contributed GH¢44.9m (US$3.9m), according to The Fourth Estate.
- What is happening with the NLA-KGL agreement? The agreement remained under review and renegotiation as of October 29, 2026. President Mahama ordered renegotiation in April 2026 following a committee review.
