The NLA, which regulates<\/strong> all lottery operations in Ghana, has lacked access<\/strong> to detailed transaction data since 2019, when the NLA-KGL lottery deal first became operational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The directive<\/strong> follows an investigation by The Fourth Estate, which prompted the NLA to write to KGL, the telecom companies, and the NCA prior to the directive to reconcile accounts<\/strong> that had been unavailable since 2019<\/strong>. The letters emphasised the need to collect all financial<\/strong> transactions processed through both online and USSD channels to ensure full transparency<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to The Fourth Estate report, KGL has never conducted the weekly reconciliation<\/strong> of revenue mandated in its 2024 licence, leaving the NLA without complete oversight<\/strong> of lottery sales and payouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mohammed Abdul-Salam, Director-General of the NLA, said: \u201cThe NCA\u2019s letter is to reinforce the position that they needed to make that data available to us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report added: “In an interview with the Group Chairman of KGL, Alex Apau Dadey, he confirmed to The Fourth Estate that the company\u2019s 2024 revenue<\/strong> from the NLA\u2019s 5\/90 online lottery was over GHC3bn<\/strong> \u202f(\u20ac264m).”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paragraph 17 of KGL\u2019s Exclusive Licence outlines the company\u2019s obligations, according to the report: \u201cThe parties shall conduct weekly reconciliations<\/strong> on transactions (pre- and post-draw, revenue, wins, prize and prize payments) during the term of this licence<\/strong>. For the avoidance of doubt, the reconciliation is to ensure that there are no discrepancies<\/strong> in the financial records of the NLA and the Licensee (KGL), pursuant to Section 51 of Act 722.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The licence requires weekly reconciliation<\/strong> across all transaction channels, ensuring that the NLA can accurately verify lottery revenue, wins and payouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ghanaian law <\/strong>makes it clear that only NLA can legally operate lotteries, highlighting why compliance and oversight are critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Section 4(1) <\/strong>of the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722) states: \u201cA person other than the National Lottery Authority shall not operate any form of lottery.\u201d Section 4(2)<\/strong> states: \u201cA person who contravenes <\/strong>subsection (1) commits an offence<\/strong> and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than two thousand and five hundred penalty units or imprisonment for a term of not more than three years or both.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n KGL holds a 15-year exclusive licence <\/strong>to operate the NLA\u2019s 5\/90 lottery, making transparency and compliance particularly critical<\/strong>. The *959# USSD channel is a major revenue stream<\/strong> for the lottery, meaning the NLA has lacked the necessary transaction details to independently verify revenue since 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With these obligations <\/strong>in mind, the NCA directive ensures that telecom companies provide full transaction records to the NLA, covering both online and USSD channels. This will allow the authority to reconcile accounts and oversee<\/strong> lottery operations accurately, as required by law. <\/p>\n\n\nTransparency and compliance in focus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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