No public official will be allowed to run state organizations like their personal property – Razak Kojo Opoku warns

Razak Kojo Opoku, President of the Concerned Voters Movement has sent a strong message to Public Officials seeking to run down state organizations indicating that no room will be afforded such persons to run state organizations like a personal property, especially under an Akufo-Addo government.

In an article posted by the leader of the Pressure group, he questions why some people have been allowed to engage in certain acts the threaten the survival of the National Lottery Authority, adding that he has come under attack for attempting to avert the ills.

“Why should NLA as chief regulator and operator be struggling financially, and Banker to Banker Lotto operators would be flourishing at the detriment of the government? This is highly unacceptable.

Why should a private lotto operator pay 30-40% commission to its writers/agents and NLA would be struggling to pay only 20% commission to its Accredited Lotto Marketing Companies? This is sad.

Why should Technical Service Providers be allowed to charge 4-6% fees on the gross sales of NLA and not on the net. This arrangement needs review.

Why should major contracts be signed by the former Director-General without appropriate Board Approval? This clearly shouldn't be the case,” he asked among other things.”

Member of Parliament for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong in a recent rant accused Razak Opoku of embarking on a venture to collapse lotto businesses.

But according to Razak, he is 100% committed to the President and the course of government and that his ultimate aim is to ensure NLA lives up to its mandate and status as the state's lottery regulator.

“These are some of the many issues we are doing our best to address them but unfortunately we are being rather under attacked by people who should have even considered reaching out to NLA for its side of the matter.

My 100% loyalty is to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and any of his appointees who are championing the course to make the President’s work successful.”

Read his full post below:

Razak Kojo Opoku Writes: NLA Deserves Serious Reforms

We won't allow public officials to run state organizations as if it is their personal property. Certainly not under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told us to be Citizens not Spectators. Ghana first and first always. We serve Ghana not personality.

Why should a private lotto company be allowed to do 5/90 live draws on TV at the detriment of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), an action which has the propensity to collapse the NLA. Should we allow NLA to collapse under the NPP government? No!

Why should a private lotto company be allowed to do shortcode operating 5/90 Game under Act 844 without Board Approval, and without paying anything to the authority?

Why should NLA as chief regulator and operator be struggling financially, and Banker to Banker Lotto operators would be flourishing at the detriment of the government? This is highly unacceptable.

Why should a private lotto operator pay 30-40% commission to its writers/agents and NLA would be struggling to pay only 20% commission to its Accredited Lotto Marketing Companies? This is sad.

Why should Technical Service Providers be allowed to charge 4-6% fees on the gross sales of NLA and not on the net. This arrangement needs review.

Why should major contracts be signed by the former Director-General without appropriate Board Approval? This clearly shouldn't be the case.

Why should a former Director-General be allowed to do foreign transactions with Lotto Companies in Nigeria which rely on NLA draw numbers without Board Approval, and without the knowledge of the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the President?

Why should a Technical Service Provider for VAG Lotto allegedly connected to former Director-General operate 5/90 Game on their platform without approval and authorization from the Board?

These are some of the many issues we are doing our best to address them but unfortunately, we are being rather under attack by people who should have even considered reaching out to NLA for its side of the matter.

My 100% loyalty is to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and any of his appointees who are championing the course to make the President’s work successful.

All of us have the patriotic duty to support President Akufo-Addo to succeed.