GHANA– Ghana could generate more than GH¢2 billion (US$172 million) annually from its lottery sector if a package of reforms directed by President John Dramani Mahama is fully implemented, according to National Lottery Authority (NLA) Director-General Mohammed Abdul-Salam.
The proposed reforms include centralized monitoring of private lotto operators, real-time revenue verification, and a review of commercial agreements aimed at increasing government returns from the sector.
During an interview, Abdul-Salam said the NLA plans to integrate private lotto operators into a centralized monitoring system that would provide the authority with direct access to sales, winnings, and service-payment data across licensed operations.
Under the proposed framework, the regulator would be able to independently verify operator revenues before financial statements are submitted, improving transparency and strengthening compliance oversight.
“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,” Abdul-Salam said.
The planned monitoring platform would cover multiple distribution channels, including USSD services, online lottery platforms, and point-of-sale (POS) terminals. The NLA has already requested authorization from the Ministry of Finance to deploy a revenue assurance system capable of eliminating paper-based lottery sales and providing real-time transaction monitoring.
According to Abdul-Salam, independent revenue assurance would also allow the regulator to identify inaccurate reporting and apply penalties where necessary.
Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson subsequently confirmed that the government was working with both the NLA and the Attorney-General’s office to review agreements that affect the authority’s revenue position.
While the projected GH¢2 billion annual revenue figure highlights the potential value of the reforms, Abdul-Salam emphasized that the target remains dependent on the successful implementation of the proposed measures. The figure represents a future projection rather than current lottery revenue collections.
The NLA said the reforms are intended to improve transparency, strengthen regulatory oversight, and increase the lottery sector’s contribution to government revenue while creating a more accountable operating environment for licensed operators.
