NLA to introduce solar kiosks for agents
The National Lottery Authority (NLA) plans to provide about 30,000 innovative solar kiosks nationwide for its agents as part of efforts to modernise the operations of the authority.
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The Director-General of the NLA, Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, made this known last Tuesday in Accra at a stakeholders forum, and added that the move was aimed at modernising lottery in Ghana and cushioning NLA’s agents across the country.
The meeting sought to foster collaboration between the NLA and its key stakeholders with the aim of helping to address the challenges affecting the operations of lottery in the country.
Some operators have complained about issues affecting their welfare, particularly with regard to the ‘low’ commission given to them by the NLA compared to their counterparts operating banker-to-banker who are paid about 35 per cent non-tax commission.
During the discussions, one of the operators, Nana Osei Kobo, said, “if they don’t increase the commission, all operators might move to banker-to-banker.”
Some participants at the event
However, Mr Osei-Ameyaw, who is determined to forge strong collaboration between the NLA and its stakeholders, gave the assurance that the government would look into their complaints and address them appropriately.
“We are a listening authority. We are willing to listen to you as to how best we can work together to move this industry forward,” he said, reiterating that the NLA was not in to witch-hunt anyone but to ensure that the right thing was done.
Mobile Money
Mr Osei-Ameyaw explained that the innovative kiosks could be used for mobile money transfers and utility payments, among other transactions.
He said the new kiosks were expected to be rolled out by November or December this year, and that when that happened, it would help the authority to increase the commission it paid to lotto operators or agents from the current 20 per cent to about 25 per cent or more.
“The programmes are intended to increase your commissions,” he told the operators who responded with a deafening applause.
According to him, the initiative would help the government to create additional employment avenues for the masses, noting that through the new programme, the authority would consider introducing what he termed community lottery policing system in which the youth would be engaged.
‘Taxes to be scrapped’
As a means of helping to improve the living conditions of the over 200,000 operators and writers working for the NLA, Mr Osei-Ameyaw stated that the authority had begun talks with the Ministry of Finance to remove the taxes charged on the commission being paid to the operators.
He also said the authority was making frantic efforts to ensure that those operating the banker-to-banker lotto services were regularised and licensed by the state to ensure a level-playing field for all stakeholders in the industry.
Mr Osei-Ameyaw added that the country could earn about GH¢250 million annually by bringing on board the banker-to-banker operators.