Ato Forson demands more revenue from NLA, calls for review of agreements

By: Winifred Fosua Agyekum

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has directed the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to increase its financial contribution to the state and called for a review of agreements that he says have resulted in significant lottery revenue being ceded away from government.

Dr Forson made the call after the NLA presented a GH¢10 million cheque to the Consolidated Fund, marking its first such payment since 2017.

He described the payment as a positive development but questioned why the authority had not made similar contributions over the period.

“I am particularly happy to note that the National Lottery is back and supporting,” he said, while questioning what happened to the authority’s contributions between 2017 and 2026.

Dr Forson said the government would work with the NLA and the Attorney-General’s Office to review agreements governing the authority’s operations.

“I will work with you to review those agreements that have taken the resources that belong to the state,” he said.

According to him, the review is expected to be completed in October, with the government seeking to correct what it considers an imbalance in the distribution of lottery revenues.

“The revenue has been ceded unreasonably to the other entity as against the government. And we believe that needs to be corrected, and we’ll correct it immediately,” he said.

The Finance Minister also stressed that the GH¢10 million payment should not be considered sufficient, insisting that the state expects significantly more revenue from the NLA.

“The taxpayer deserves more than 10 million. Yes, it’s a good start. But you have to do more,” he said.

Dr Forson further urged the NLA to focus on
its core mandate of generating revenue from lottery operations and avoiding what he described as quasi-fiscal activities.

He said any revenue generated beyond the authority’s operational expenditure should be treated as surplus and transferred to the government.

“Please don’t go into areas that are not your mandate. They are quasi-fiscal activities, and you should desist from them. Bring the money back to the government,” he said.