Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA,) Samuel Awuku, has disclosed the Authority has contributed over GH¢250 million to the Consolidated Fund in the past ten years.
The Authority, he said, has also supported institutions, groups and individuals with cash donations, medical equipment and infrastructure in the areas of health, education, sports and the promotion of cultural activities.
He stated that reports from the World Lottery Association, which constitute roughly half of the total number of worldwide lotteries indicate over US$76 billion were collected for good causes in 2015.
Mr. Sammy Awuku disclosed this at the relaunch of the NLA Caritas Lottery Platform on Wednesday 20th October 2021 in Accra.
The Platform, he said, was established in November 2012 to enable corporate bodies, organizations, commercial and financial institutions, and well-meaning Ghanaians to run their business promotions through lottery schemes in collaboration with NLA.
Revenue generated by the Authority from the Caritas Lottery Platform, he said, is used mainly for social responsibility projects to support the less privileged in society as mandated by law.
He disclosed that the establishment of the Platform has helped most organizations particularly financial institutions, enhance their product sales, improve deposit mobilization and enhance a savings culture and also helped sanitize the consumer promo space, which was saddled with fraudulent activities.
“The Caritas Lottery Platform hinges on Section 2(3) of the National Lotto Act 2006 (Act 722) which stipulates 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 and mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans and destitute children.”
“Revenue generated by NLA from the Caritas Lottery Platform is hence used mainly for social responsibility projects to support the less privileged in society as mandated by law,” he said.
Mr. Awuku averred that the NLA is still resolute to provide better care for the needy and support the underprivileged despite the fact that it has positively affected society in the past through support and donations.
The objective, he said, is what has culminated into the birth of the Good Causes Foundation previously known as Special Projects.
According to him, the Good Causes Foundation is aimed to develop, implement and maintain a structure and Action Plan based on four main pillars- Education, Health, Youth and Sports Development and Culture.
He said, “Education will focus on awarding educational support to brilliant but needy students. We will also support educational institutions with the necessary logistics and sponsor programs and projects that meet the objectives of the Foundation.”
“In the area of health, the foundation will focus on infrastructure support, training of mental health workers, provide hospital supplies and embark on nationwide medical outreaches on specific ailments.”
“Youth and Sports Development will cover capacity building for the youth and will support sporting activities with special focus on the development of lesser-known sports. It will also assist SMEs owned by young people with the technical and skill support they may need to be innovative. Special attention will also be given to persons with disability and special needs who may want to go into entrepreneurship.”
“On Culture, our final pillar, the foundation will support projects that seek to safeguard and protect Ghanaian cultural events and educational programs,” he added.
He indicated that all proceeds from the Caritas Lottery Platform will go directly into the Good Causes Foundation, which is not a profit-making venture, with the aim of impacting and making Ghanaian society better.
The Chief of Staff, Hon. Akosua Frema Opare called on corporate Ghana to use the Caritas Lottery platform for their raffles, promotion and game of chance. This in her view will help the NLA to fund its NLA Good Causes foundation.
NLA under the new board and management have resolved to relaunch the Caritas Lottery platform to regulate consumer promotions and other raffle related activities of Corporate Ghana and all businesses. This will boost the confidence of citizens who partake in lottery while raising revenue to support the physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans, destitute children and other good causes. The authority takes a lot of inspiration from its sister bodies across the world where revenue generated from lotteries are invested in areas like education, sports, health, arts and culture.
She made the comment at Alisa Hotel when the NLA relaunched its Caritas platform and Good Causes foundation at a color event which was well attended by CEO`s, MD`s and marketing executives from Corporate Ghana.
She added “Fellow Ghanaians, to ensure effective and efficient use of revenue to be generated from the Caritas Lottery platform, NLA is setting up its Good causes foundation, the authority believes that in taking the path of investing in visible good causes society, it will also help de-stigmatize lottery in the minds of average Ghanaians regarding the role lottery plays in our modern day society.
Madam Chief of Staff used the occasion to invite Corporate Ghana to partner the NLA`s Good Causes foundation. The Chairman of Keed Ghana Limited (KGL) pledged to contribute 2million cedis annually to support the foundation.
The Minister of state in charge of finance, Hon. Charles Adu-Boahene, the deputy Minister of finance, Hon Osei Asare, deputy Attorney General, Hon Diana Asonaba Dapaah Esq., Director General LONACI, Mr. Dramaner Coulibahy, His Eminence Togbui Francis Nyonyo and other board members of the NLA graced the occasion.
